I, Me !

Are first and second person pronouns – two words that make up a good portion of our daily conversation.

Children today are significantly more aware about themselves, their tastes and have strong opinions too. It’s not uncommon to find a toddler who argues with his parents, speaks emphatically like an adult ….something on the lines of

‘I don’t have to do anything if I don’t want to do it !!’

I can speak safely for my generation as being taught to have mindsets to share, to include and to be concerned about others and their wellbeing. We were taught to adjust, to compromise, to forgive, to let go, all with the intention of maintaining peace for all.

‘I don’t care’, ‘Doesn’t work for me’, ‘I don’t have to put up with it’ ….so many ‘I’ s in our vocabulary. What is this obsession we have for ‘I’?

We are so lost within ourselves, we don’t seek out for anything beyond ‘our own person’ (coz it’s not worth it?), we don’t enquire about another (coz we may be intruding?), we don’t get together in the name of fellowship (coz it’s just a waste of time and money?), we are too engrossed with our day-to-day, monthly and annual plans and targets, we forget we need each other and fail to recognize one’s worth, we forget to say thank you to them (coz we think they owe it to us?)

If we can replace ‘I’ and ‘me’ with ‘us’, there is inclusion of ‘everyone’ which is perhaps more meaningful and sustainable. We must acknowledge others and what they do for us with at least a simple thank you. We must help and protect one another (not just because it is part of social responsibility), but it is essential to living long and living well. We must lend a helping hand to our less fortunate brothers and sisters (because it is the right thing to do). We must be more humane (not just by textbook standards), but because we owe it to each other.

Heal the World. Make it a better place for you and for me and the entire human race - MJ