“Always keep your finger on the pulse of your humanity, because once you lose that, you are truly lost.” ~LMB
The dictionary defines humanity as: “compassionate, sympathetic, or generous behavior or disposition: the quality or state of being humane.” In a world where children are torn from their parent’s arms, tear gas is sprayed in the eyes of peaceful protestors, and bricks are thrown at police, we need to remember our humanity.
In your home, yelling, intimidating, threatening, or raging at your loved ones is the antithesis of acting humane. You should be the safest person in your family’s life, not one of the scariest. This is as true emotionally as it is physically. Lying to, cheating on, and controlling loved ones makes you unsafe. There is nothing humane about being unsafe to fellow human beings.
In the world, humanity is not about taking advantage of those less fortunate. Putting children in cages is inhumane. Doing so while taking away their parents is evil. Dismissing, ridiculing, or harming others due to their gender, sexual orientation, or race, is harmful to all and humane to none. Believing that our world has the right to harm a sub-group of people (blacks, Republicans, Democrats, gays, etc.) for any reason, fools you into justifying inhumane behavior.
Don’t be fooled.
Humanity is about bringing your best self to the table. It’s about helping others to rise rather than keeping them down. Be kind. Refuse to spew hate towards anyone. Handle your upsets with a grounded, powerful, strength, not an aggressive one. Stand up for those who can’t stand for themselves—in your home and the streets. And in the most difficult of times, always remember your humanity—and act accordingly.
Challenge: Remember your humanity. Refuse to justify hate—your own or that of others.