The other day, I was traveling on a bus when I noticed a man deeply engrossed in his newspaper. His face twisted in disgust as he read through the headlines. With a sigh, he turned to me and said, "This world is getting worse day by day. Everything is bad!" I smiled and replied, "No, things are not like that. The world is not bad." He raised his eyebrows, waiting for an explanation.
Just then, a memory popped into my head. It was a story about a busy father and his little daughter. The father, swamped with work, wanted to keep his child occupied. So, he tore up a page with a world map printed on it and handed it to her. "Fix this puzzle," he said, assuming it would take her a long time. To his surprise, she returned within minutes, the map perfectly arranged. Amazed, the father asked, "How did you do it so quickly?" The little girl giggled and said, "Easy, Daddy! There was a picture of a man’s face on the other side. I just put the man’s face together, and the world was fixed on its own!"
When humans are okay, the world is okay. If we fix ourselves”our thoughts, our actions and our hearts”the world naturally becomes a better place. Unfortunately, our attitude has lost the sense of humanity. We often prioritise personal gain over kindness, convenience over responsibility and greed over gratitude. We walk past people in need, turn a blind eye to injustice and forget the warmth of genuine connections. Technology has connected us virtually but distanced us emotionally. The Almighty has given us what we need, not what we greed. Yet, greed has taken a toll on human life, leading to quarrels, conflicts and even wars. The hunger for more”more power, more wealth, more control”has blinded people to the simple joys of life. But in the end, what do we truly gain? If we let greed drive us, we will only destroy the beauty that was meant to sustain us.
But it is not too late. Small actions can bring humanity back. A kind word, a helping hand, a moment of patience”these cost nothing but mean everything. If each of us makes an effort to be more compassionate, the world will slowly heal. I remember the wise words of Rabindranath Tagore: "Every child comes with the message that God is not yet discouraged of man." If the Almighty still believes in us, why should we lose hope?
So, my friend on the bus, and everyone else wondering if the world is bad”the answer is simple. The world is as good as we make it. Let’s protect it, nurture it and cherish it. Let’s choose to make it better!
