Chances are you’re reading this in a room. Imagine there are more people than you can count in that room.

There’s a 22-year-old woman from the Mid-Western region of Nigeria at the farthest corner of the room. She’s reading a book.

Beside her is a 22-year-old man from Hong Kong who is a second-year computer science undergraduate. He’s pacing around the room.

Beside him is a 29-year-old woman from Toronto who is going through a mental health crisis at the moment. She wants to go to the bathroom.

Beside her is a 45-year-old man from North Carolina who lives in Minnesota. He’s holding a $20 bill.

There are even more people in that room but these are the few people who stand out, at the moment. I’m in that room. Hundreds of people, who I sent this letter to, are in that room. In fact, everyone in the world is in your room.

We are all in there because the world, in 2020, is a global village. 

We are all experiencing a pandemic that seems to have no true end. 

We are all perplexed by the horror stories in the news and on social media. 

We are all frustrated with our political leaders for one reason or the other.

We are all in pain - one way or the other.

A measure of your pain is being felt miles away by a fellow human. You, too, are feeling a measure of someone’s pain. To ease your pain, start by easing the pain of others. Philosophers call this empathy. The bible calls this love. They are both right.

Collectively, we can ease our pain if - and only if - we look beyond our bread (personal gain) and circuses (personal source of entertainment) and start living from a place of empathy and love towards others.

Acts of empathy (or love) look different to different people but:

• Complete silence isn’t an act of empathy or love. 

• Feigning ignorance isn’t an act of empathy or love.

• Continuing to engage in destructive and inhumane acts isn’t an act of empathy or love. 

• Actively and intentionally refusing to put your money where your mouth is isn’t an act of empathy or love.

• Sending virtual thoughts and prayers (and not actually praying for the victims) isn’t an act of empathy or love.

• Refusing to educate yourself or seek help when you need it - so you can stop yourself from being a perpetrator in the future - isn’t an act of empathy or love. 

It sounds super cliche but you can contribute towards making your room - and the world - a better place if you look beyond your bread and circuses - and live life from a place of empathy and love.