16 August 2012

An(other) open letter

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Dear human race,

You know, the only responsibility we as human beings have, regardless of age, gender, religion, location or any other differentiator you could possibly try and think of, the only responsibility we have is to be the best human beings we could possibly be. That’s right. In everything you do, be sure to be the best you can be while ensuring there is no negative impact to the world around you.

And we do not measure our success by the size of our bank accounts or our cars or our houses. We do not measure our success by any other measure but the number of lives around us we have improved, no matter how small the contribution or the change. As long as it is positive, you are being a successful human being.

The more you do for anything that only benefits you and those who affect your life, the more you fail at your very basic responsibility as a human being.

If you ever withhold rights from others that you claim or demand for yourself, you fail as a human being.

If you ever treat another living being, human or otherwise, as if it is your property to do with as you please, you fail as a human being.

If you ever raise your hand in anger, or purposely cause damage, you fail as a human being.

If you ever use words to get your way, or to diminish the capacity of another in any way, you fail as a human being.

If you ever allow the mistreatment, abuse or suffering of another to happen or continue, you fail as a human being.

I can go on. Really, I can. But I think you get the point.

And please understand, I do not believe myself to be a perfect human being. Far from it. But I try, every day, to be a better human being than the day before. Even when I feel flawed and broken, or helpless and alone, I try and be a better human being than I was yesterday.

So, starting now, be the best human being you can be. Every second of every day. And tell others. And do not accept failure from those around you.

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