An Emergency Letter to Society
Dear honorary Member of Society (if you’re reading this, then yes: I mean you).
There is only one fact that is known to be completely true, undisputed by science and religion...we all eventually die. Now whilst we ALL come towards this end, each one of us chooses a separate path to get there, whether it be by becoming famous, supporting a family, helping others or basking in misery. What we need to understand is that we are all in this together; and that in the end every single human wants exactly the same thing: to be noticed and loved by others.
During the last decade, certain changes in our lifestyles have been introduced; such as social media and smartphones. While this has broadened the possibility of keeping in touch with people we never would have, it’s become an excess, an addiction and a step backwards for society itself. I guess the phrase “the more you know, the more you want” comes into play here. We have become so over saturated by the knowledge and possibilities that we now possess that we’ve backed out from our essentials: face to face communication. As time progresses, I notice less kids out on the street, less conversations at restaurants, more stress around me and less happiness in the world.
At what point did we start preferring to talk with the people we’re not with than with the people we are sitting next to. It’s sad and disappointing that whenever I try to start a conversation with someone, they stop listening to me because they’re too busy checking how popular the last status or picture they posted on FaceBook is. I won’t lie, I’m guilty of this myself. I have done it and might do it tomorrow. Society has a way of pressuring us to do things we don’t agree with. However, keep this in mind: WE started it and therefore WE can change it.
Last semester I circumnavigated the world with 600 other college students. I thought it was going to be the party of a lifetime. However, it turned out to be quite the contrary. I returned a completely different person, having interacted with people more during those 4 months than in the last 10 years. We had extremely limited internet, scarce cellphone reception and an open mind. I learned more about my peers in 2 weeks than about some friends in 5 years. Why? Because we would sit down and talk for hours while eating dinner or watching a sunset...and the best part about the whole trip was that the less money I spent and the simpler my experiences were, the more I seemed to genuinely enjoy them.
We don’t need 90% of what we have, yet seem to hold on to all these things as though we’d evaporate without them. When I was in Ghana, I met the happiest people I’d ever encountered (even though 52% of the population lives on less than 2 dollars a day). I was startled by their life satisfaction rate and overheard one of my peers asking them why they were so happy if they were by no means rich. The man responded to him (my friend) that he did not know anything about wealth. “We are extremely rich,” the man responded. “I have a country I love, food on the table, children to carry on my name and a community that cares for and about me.
Since I heard that, my perspective on life has changed. Living in the US, I’ve started saying “screw you” to all of the norms I grew up with: I’ll approach anyone to have a conversation, I’ll introduce people that normally wouldn’t match to each other (I enjoy getting people out of their comfort zones) but most of all I’ve become a problem solver. I love making people smile, brightening up their day and helping them confront problems in the present and avoid mistakes in the future.
It has come to my attention that the reason as to why I was not as happy before was because I didn’t share. I kept stories and jokes to myself because I was afraid that people wouldn’t enjoy them; I kept material possessions to myself because I was greedy and thought others didn’t deserve them; I manipulated people into liking me because I was afraid that when I’d expose who I really was, they would walk away. Now, I give more than I take, yet receive more than I ever had (hope it makes sense).
Anyways, I encourage everyone that reads this to travel more, buy more experiences instead of material possessions and most of all, to share it with the world. You’d be surprised at how many people want to listen to you if you’re excited to talk to them. We are not getting younger and there has never been a better time to do the things you want. Stop putting off your happiness and start instantly. Things have a way of working themselves out if you keep a positive attitude and a watchful eye. Seize your opportunities and regret nothing. If you’re in a good place right now, then why regret any decision you’ve made? If a single thing might have changed in your life, you probably would not be where you are.
So take the cards you’re dealt and choose to fold or raise, but never pass. I want you to think about what you just read today, and then tomorrow thank your parents, God, yourself or whoever you want for being alive today, because there are billions (probably trillions) of people that don’t have that privilege anymore. Life is amazing if you make it that way, an trust me, it’s really not hard at all.
Get in touch with nature, call up a friend and tell them you love them, it won’t only brighten up your day but it’ll make their’s better, let the people around you know how much they mean to you, apologize when you need to, if you see someone that’s having a bad day give them a smile but most of all, and this really is the key to everything; be comfortable in your own skin and happy with who you are; because no matter what you’ve done in the past, if you’ve read up to this point, I’m sure you’re a great person.
Carry forward and persevere!
Adolfo Kahan
September 30th 2012

Live life to the fullest, while standing at the edge of your fears! - Adolfo Kahan