Living For “Us”
What exactly does the Humanity Project mean when we talk about not living for “me” alone but rather for “us”? Basically, we mean looking around at the reality: we’re each already an “us” — an important part of an even more important whole. Humanity. Just as your finger is an important part of you. That finger is a key individual component of a larger entity. So it is with individual human beings. That simple awareness is the beginning of living for “us.” But we also need to appreciate that humanity as a species is struggling toward something more, toward greater fulfillment of the extraordinary, unique qualities we possess. Over the centuries, individuals slowly are learning to gain deeper respect for others, for instance, and to embrace lives free of violence. Again, a clear-eyed look about shows us this is true. Did you know that only a few hundred years ago people didn’t provide cutlery for their dinner guests — because those guests were likely to get into an argument and stab each other? That’s only one brief example of the kind of slow, admittedly very imperfect, yet discernible advancement of the human race. The Humanity Project believes that today’s human beings benefit in many ways, individually and collectively, when we each recognize these truths … then make a conscious decision to be part of humanity’s growth. Our science-based philosophy of shared value provides one effective mechanism to do this in daily life but it’s not the only way. What seems to us most important is that we understand we’re all part of the same team and work for the betterment of that whole team. We can do this in ways that improve our own daily lives, the lives of others around us and our community as well. These are compatible goals. So yes, we ask that each of us make a deliberate choice every day: to do what we can to help others in ways that help ourselves too. As we like to say, “Helping Yourself, Helping Humanity — That’s the Humanity Project.”
About The Author
I am glad I found your website. As a person who is passionate about raising children to be giving empathetic individuals who give back to society, your information is quite helpful. I will add your blog to my blogroll so I can continue to follow your posts.
Thanks very much for your post! We look forward to hearing from you again.