“We all have to live together, so we might as well live together happily.”-The Dalai Lama
On a planet with over seven billion people and even more billions of other species, no one is ever truly alone. And that is just the count of living beings alone. If we were to count the number of plants and rivers and mountains, the number goes up to tens of billions. To imagine all of us coexisting peacefully seems like a far-fetched dream.
But dreams can become reality if we work towards achieving them. Well, that does not mean that you have to carry the weight of the entire world on your shoulders. You just have to begin at an individual level, and work your way up.
The beginning
In a perfect world, your relationships and bonds with your families would be full of love, care and support. But little does it work out like that where in reality most families are just like any other people. There are the ones you get along with and the ones you have your differences with.
When you’re at a family reunion, there is always a cousin you are close to and then there is another one you don’t see eye to eye about anything. Making peace with him or her is the last thing on your mind. But if out of the blue, he or she extends a hand of friendship to you, would you find it in your heart to take it? Well, of course, you would, you’re not that cold-hearted. You don’t always have to wait for them to take the first step, you can approach them first too.
Begin by having an open mind and being willing to grasp why someone is the way he or she is. Try to understand and listen to what they have to say. Communicate and settle your differences so that being in the same room becomes easier.
Leveling up
Once you can live in harmony with your close-knit family, it’s time for you to start leveling up. At the next level, check out your community. And it’s not just the people you have to reach. You have to be friendly to the animals and plants surrounding you. So, even if it is as simple as feeding the occasional stray cat outside your door or as mundane as watering your plants, think of it as living together peacefully.
Be kind and willing to be friends with those near you. After all, it feels better to see friendly faces around instead of waking up to hostility. And if you keep leveling up, you might even reach the world. Countries may not get along with each other, but the people sure can.
