Each day, in some small way, I try to become a more fully realized humanitarian. Let me be clear – I am a flawed human who has not always behaved this way. I have made plenty of bad choices, and have engaged in more than my fair share of selfish behavior (and worse). But somewhere in the last 15 years or so, I gradually began to become more aware of how I might help others. I realized that helping others could actually make me feel better, both about myself and the world in general. I saw that sometimes even the most insignificant act could have a positive effect on someone else.
It is not selfish to work to become a more fully realized human, to devote yourself to creative expression. Focusing on oneself and working to become more humanitarian are not mutually exclusive activities. It’s not an either/or proposition – you can do both at the same time.
This is one of the great things about being alive – you get to choose how you are going to live. Whether imprisoned physically or by our own minds, we can choose how we express our humanity. It’s something that can never be taken from you.