New York City is a melting pot of eight million people all living their lives and leading their own stories. People from all walks of life. All races. All personalities. All ideals. That’s what makes this city beautiful.
For all its warts and all, the city holds a special place in my heart. And I am honestly okay with laying my roots over here – despite the mounting problems that you see in the news these days.
It’s important not to get discouraged with all the bad news that you see out there. After all, bad news is what makes money. It’s what keeps us glued to the computer or the TV monitor. For what it's worth, bad news captures our imagination and attention more than all the good stuff in this world. It is what it is.
During times of division and separation, when it feels like a dog-eat-dog world, when it feels like your loss is my gain or vice versa, it’s important to find some common thread amongst us all. Thru the different personalities. Thru the different cultures and ideals. Even the slightest common denominator can help us connect with our fellow man in a different light.
The fact that we all breathe the same air. That we all have dreams and ambitions. That we want to be loved and supported. That we all view the same sun and moon, regardless of where we are on this planet. These commonalities bind us together.
We are all kind of doing what we can to survive. We want to put food on the table for our families. We want our children to live productive, happy, and fulfilling lives. We ourselves want to enjoy the moment and live in peace and harmony. We want to achieve and find success in whatever endeavors we immerse ourselves in.
We are all human. And it’s important to note that none of us are Supermen or Superwomen. We are simply human. With our strengths. And of course, with our flaws and vulnerabilities. And that’s okay. To each our own.
Even the strongest, most emotionally distant, person on the outside will have his or her times of struggle. Times of challenge. When they need a helping hand to support them and give them some inspiration to keep going. That’s the nature of the world we live in. It’s important that we find some love for this community.
Whether we live in New York City. Or China. Or any other far reaches of the world. We are all bound together by common threads. And it’s important to find those little connections to provide deeper relationships. No matter how tough someone seems on the outside, they have their struggles too. So, it’s important to approach every person with compassion and empathy. You never know what they’re going thru on the inside.
This modern world has blessed us with numerous conveniences. From vaccines. To social media. To public transport. To next level automobiles. To entertainment at our fingertips. Convenience is at our doorstep wherever we go. But that doesn’t make us immune from hardship or sorrow or the human condition. In fact, some of these conveniences can exacerbate them if not used properly.
There is so much beauty in this world. And it would be a shame to let it be covered up by your external perceptions. It’s important to continue to look for wonder. To look for beauty. And if you can’t find it, then keep looking for it again over and over. Until you realize it. And then, you repeat the process.
Yes, New York City has people dreaming for big things. Some will succeed. Some will fail. But either way, we should approach our fellow community members with appreciation and humanity.
When I was in high school, I was simply preoccupied with looking as cool as possible. With stroking my own ego with my high GPA and excellent test scores. But as I’ve grown older, I’ve realized that these external achievements are not the end all be all. What’s more important is our internal growth. And our ability to shape our perspectives the way we see fit.
And to simply appreciate the differences that we all have. And accept that things will not be fixed in an instant. But we can all work together towards a common solution thru the beauty of teamwork. Thru patience and gratitude. We are all woven together like a fabric, whether we realize it or not.