What a Humane World Looks Like: Finding Something to Love in Everyone

This month we have 25 students from different parts of the world taking our month-long online course, A Better World, A Meaningful Life.

Each week day the participants complete an activity or exercise designed to get them thinking and exploring about MOGO (most good) choices in their personal lives and on a systemic level. One of the first exercises focused on “What do you care most about?”, and there have been some really interesting answers. The question sparked me to think about what my own response would be.

I can’t remember the wording of the quote or its source, but a few years ago I read a quote in a book on Buddhist philosophy that basically said “To truly love, you must love everyone.” The thought that I should actually proactively work to love everyone – not just those in my family or circle of friends – but EVERYONE really struck me and has stayed with me to this day. I’ve always loved animals and the natural world, but because of some trauma in my childhood, I grew up not liking people for the most part. And, what I’ve learned — and continue to learn — about all the horrific things that people are doing to each other, animals and the planet made it easy to dislike humanity as a whole, prompting me to save my love and concern for animals, the planet, my loved ones and for those I perceived as “good.”

But, completing the coursework and readings for becoming a humane educator, and reading philosophies such as those found in that book on Buddhism, has lead me to open my heart much wider. To focus on the good in humanity, to understand that people are much more than certain habits or choices. To acknowledge that most people are making the best choices they know how at the time.

I used to focus on animal protection and environmental preservation issues, but now my circle of concern encompasses everything. Of course, since I’m only one person, I can’t address every single issue or concern, but looking through the lens that sees the interconnectedness of all issues helps me make choices that have a greater positive impact for all. It’s still hard for me to “love everyone.” And I certainly don’t like or condone a lot of what I see; but, trying to live a MOGO life continues to help me find something to love (or at least respect) in everybody.

~ Marsha

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