Human beings were created to have more cognitive and social skills to interact and advance in a way that other animals could not. Our brains are not fully developed at birth but through learned experiences and typical development, the brain goes on to having various functional skills including executive functioning. These skills help us plan, have sustained attention, have memory, multitask, and have self-control among so many others. The brain continues to develop these skills up to about the age of 25 years, but the earlier it’s introduced, the better.
We live in a world of many different environments; I grew up in an urban area and you can have the next person who grew up in a mountainous, countryside area. Our different environments contribute to our brain’s development as well along with the influence of the adults in our life; this is how we learn and grow. What this means is that children are born clueless to the ways of the present world until the influence of adults happen.
So let’s imagine living in a world where all people grow up respecting each other’s similarities and differences. Where our emotional needs are always met, eliminating traumatic stress. Where there is no class system based on financial success. Where we share our positive knowledge with others. Where we can freely create a home in any available space. Where the laws governing us are the same for all.
There is so much happening in the world today including here in America. As someone who identifies as a Black American there is a laundry list of things I can talk about including the systemic racism that has gone on for hundreds of years without resolution. When I watch the news, it’s sickening to see our world in this continued cycle of chaos. As I mentioned earlier, the goal of humans was to think and interact to advance the species, but clearly we have prioritized selfish behaviors over the greater good. The children of the world are the future and it is our job to mold their development so they can become adults who care and want to see us end this cycle of negativity.
Below, you will find some inspirational quotes from some great leaders of the past who fought and promoted unity.
“We must learn to live together as brothers and sisters or perish together as fools.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr
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“I can do things you cannot, you can do things I cannot; together we can do great things.” -Mother Teresa
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“Our ability to reach unity in diversity will be the beauty and the test of our civilization.” -Mahatma Gandhi
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“The negligence of a few could easily send a ship to the bottom, but if it has the wholehearted co-operation of all on board it can be safely brought to part.” -Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
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“There can be no greater gift than that of giving one’s time and energy to help others without expecting anything in return,” -Nelson Mandela
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“I will not allow my life’s light to be determined by the darkness around me.” -Sojourner Truth
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“Power is when we have every justification to kill, and we don’t.” -Oskar Schindler