Our world is in deep trouble. Why are you so serious?

In the aftermath of the flooding in Valencia this October, among the volunteers helping with recovery efforts, a group of young people began unloading trucks filled with large bottles of mineral water to make them available to those affected.

At first, they all crowded at the back of the truck to unload the bottles together, but then they formed a chain: from the truck, the first person passed the bottle to someone below, who then passed it to the next, and so on, until they were deposited in a storage area about a hundred meters away.

Not only was it immediately clear that this was a faster and more efficient way to do it, but in the midst of sadness and desolation, a rhythm suddenly emerged: the boys and girls started passing the bottles faster and faster, playing at helping when, in reality, they were truly helping.

Laughter of pride and camaraderie broke out. That joy passed from one to another, just like the bottles. Videos were taken showing how the young people were enjoying the act of collaborating.

Joy…

There is a Buddhist saying that goes, “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional”.

We cannot choose the events life will make us go through, but we can decide how we will process and tackle them. This is crucial in terms of how long we want their impact to last—in short, how deeply they will mark us.

The seriousness of the problems we face often pulls us emotionally to try and respond with equal seriousness—not just those directly affected, which would be more logical, but also those of us who might help at some point.

Identifying too much with the gravity and pain of everything happening poses a great risk, especially after a personal day already full of challenges: it can lead us to disconnect from the need to contribute, and that is something we cannot allow.

There is a Buddhist saying that goes, “Pain is inevitable, but suffering is optional”.

There’s no doubt the world is in trouble, and that we all need to act together to help solve its problems.

Can we try to make it easier to do so? Can we try something that allows us to participate easily, with lightness and playfulness?

Can we approach it with joy?

For the first time, a structure has been created to make that possible. Soon, you will be able to engage in activism in the same way you play the lottery or grab a coffee at a bar.

Effortlessly, every day of the year. But with a result infinitely more important than that of any other habit just as easy.

Become a member of HUMANSDID today.

And if you’ve already joined, pass the bottle already!