This world is full of darkness, pain, suffering, and sadness, so the last thing it needs is for people to bring more of that to the world. While the world is not entirely doom and gloom, it is that darkness that is most pervasive and receives the most time occupying our news and media in our societies at large. People are hungry, homeless, there’s racism, sexism, homophobia, people are dying, sick, people are fighting one another, people are hating one another, it seems every day this is what occupies our attention. We have choices, we have free will, those choices are simple;

• Bring more darkness to the world by thinking only of themselves.
• Ignore the suffering of others.
• Help to heal and repair the world.

Some choose the first option, thinking only of their desires and needs, casting all other humans aside to satiate and fill the gaping void within themselves, which is forever hungry, forever searching for more. No matter how much they have, they always desire more, even at the expense of others, because inside they are hollow and wanting. These people are hurting; inside they are empty and looking to fill it with materialism because they know of nothing else. While most would blame this group for many of the ills of the world, if you were hungry would you not try to eat something?

Next, we have those who willfully choose to ignore the suffering of others, instead solely focusing on themselves with complete disregard for other beings. They are complicit and complacent, uncaring and emotionally unmoved until it affects them and their loved ones. A commercial or program comes on the television talking about others suffering and they change the channel, wholly untouched. This is where the wicked dwells, where darkness thrives, and where the world becomes much colder.

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke

Finally, we have those who refuse to sit on the sidelines, those who say, “If there’s no light, I’ll become the light,” and do their best to help heal the world. I break this down into only two simple things; do good, be good!

To do good, you just have to help others, it requires no money (unless you have extra), just time. Talk to the sick in hospitals, volunteer in a homeless shelter or food kitchen, talk to someone struggling, help a stranger in need, just do good deeds. Second, be good simply means being kind to others, treat everyone in a way you’d wish to be treated, don’t talk ill about others, and remember the quote by Brad Meltzer; “Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind. Always.”

Through the philosophy of; “do good, be good,” you help in Tikkun Olam, repairing the world, being a light amongst the darkness, a candle that lights the way for others to emulate. The power inherent in one small act of kindness can send ripples throughout society, which in turn affects the whole world in time.