Just smile and wave, boys.

Choosing grace over online hate.

Lately, I’ve noticed a lot of heat being thrown around online, particularly towards us Indians.

It feels like every other day, there’s some new wave of criticism or a fresh set of stereotypes being hurled our way.

It’s easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of it all — typing away furiously in the comments section or crafting the perfect clap-back on Twitter. But you know what? Maybe it’s time to take a step back and just… smile and wave, boys.

Here’s the thing: the more we react, the more we feed the fire.

Every response, every bit of attention, only adds fuel to the flames. And before we know it, we’re burning out — lost in the heat of it all, losing sight of who we are in the process.

It’s a vicious cycle, one that’s tough to break free from. But maybe the answer isn’t in fighting back. Maybe it’s in introspection.

What if, instead of pointing fingers and deflecting blame, we took a moment to look inward? We all have our faults. No one’s perfect — not us, not the West, not anyone.

But there’s beauty in acknowledging our imperfections, in understanding that there’s always room for improvement. Instead of fixating on what’s wrong with others, why not focus on what we can do better as a community?

Let’s be real — we have our issues. There’s no denying that.

But the solution isn’t in lashing out or playing the blame game. It’s in self-reflection, in finding ways to uplift each other, to be more considerate, more understanding.

It starts with small steps — being more considerate to others, not spitting and throwing garbage anywhere and everywhere, adhering to basic rules and conduct, helping out a neighbour, supporting a local business, or simply being kind to someone having a tough day. These little acts of kindness, of community, can make all the difference.

So, the next time you see someone spewing hate online, take a deep breath. Smile and wave. Focus on what truly matters.

Focus on being better, on making a difference in your own little corner of the world. Because at the end of the day, that’s all we can really control — ourselves and our actions. And who knows? Maybe that’ll be enough to start a ripple of positive change.

Maybe, just maybe.