Universal language of humanity

With over six thousand languages in the world we are an incredibly diverse group. As we travel the world, we experience the variety of cultures expressed through language, dress, cuisine and more. While the vast diversity of our society is a beauty to enjoy, at the precipice of a crisis for humanity, we are also reminded of the power of the universal language of humanity. I offer a few examples for us think about.

Compassion

Times like these remind us of the importance of compassion for the less fortunate near and far. Perhaps you have volunteered at a soup kitchen and have seen firsthand the pain in the eyes of those who walk through. And now, you may know someone who has lost their livelihood because of the COVID19 crisis. From a small business owner in your neighborhood to a street vendor in China or India and beyond, the impact of the current pandemic doesn’t spare anyone. We all have the power of compassion to make a difference, one at a time.

Humility

We all take great pride in our abilities and collectively, in the advancements we have made as a society. Sometimes, this gets us thinking we are invincible or that we know more than we actually do. This is a reminder that we will always know less than what we don’t know and to have the humility to learn from others and accept the limits of our knowledge.

Gratitude

As we think about the less fortunate, let us also be grateful for what we have. I am sure you have been helped by a family member or friend or even someone you hardly knew. Take time to express your gratitude.

Love

I can’t think of a more universally understood and expressed feeling than love. When you see a kid being playful, no matter which part of the world the child is from, your heart is filled with love. When your friend stands by you at a time of great personal challenge, you feel the love. There is much more of it in the world than we feel...we have just been too busy to feel it. At this time of challenge, tune your antennas to feel the love around you and don’t hold back expressing your love.

Sacrifice

While many of us are confined to our homes now, hundreds of thousands of people wake up every day and go to work to save lives. What is remarkable is that they do so knowing fully well that they are putting their own lives at risk. Those who serve the country in the armed forces do the same. Should an opportunity present itself to help others, don’t hesitate or better yet, create one where you can put others before yourself.

Arts and Music

I was in Budapest, Hungary and a friend there offered to take me to a jazz concert. I was excited to have the opportunity to go. Within five minutes of my settling down at the concert, to my pleasant surprise, the jazz musician put up an image of himself with an iconic Indian music director whose music I listened to growing up. I was reminded of the universality of art and music. A work of art can be appreciated by anyone as it depicts the freedom to express our deepest emotions. Indeed, music and arts touch our soul and are universal. Take time to listen to music, share it with others and celebrate the artistic expression.

This time of crisis shall pass but I sure hope we don’t need crises to remind us of the universal language of humanity. Let’s practice it every day and in so doing, leave the world a better place than we found it. I know we will all be thankful for having done so.