My favorite word in the English language is kinship, which means a sharing of characteristics or qualities. It holds a special place in my heart due to my core belief that conflict stems from a failure to understand the perspective and feelings of others. It seems clear to me that pain comes from two sources: the universe and other people. The universe is made up of all that humanity does not control, such as natural disasters, diseases, and accidents. Pain also comes from people: they lie, they steal, and they kill, all for selfish reasons. People can even influence the pain from the universe; by violating quarantine, ignoring the growing climate crisis, and driving under the influence, they bring suffering to the people around them. Keeping kinship in mind helps me stay optimistic that we can one day grow to work as one planet rather than people at odds. We all share the human condition; we cry, laugh, love, hate, live, and die the same way. My heart aches when I think of people hurting their brothers and sisters on Earth. If people could understand that we are all the same, those that hurt others would find it easier to understand the consequences of careless and harmful actions. We could eliminate a great deal of suffering just by learning to understand one another. I live my life with kinship in mind, and before I judge others, I try to understand who they are.
genZindagi
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