If you’re anything like I am, then you feel like it’s become almost impossible to watch or read recent news without feeling extremely pessimistic. With the chaos of everything that’s currently happening politically and socially, it feels impossible to imagine our society standing as a unified front. Cultural, social, and political polarization is higher than it’s ever been, and engaging in political conversations often feels like the prelude to an argument rather than the start of an insightful discussion. But even though the world feels pretty hopeless now, it’s important to remember times when we all united globally.
Even though it feels like a lifetime ago, just six years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic locked down the world.
Living through the pandemic was traumatizing, and we lost so many people, but at the same time, we saw just how willing people were to help each other. Countless tired, overworked health care workers put their health and livelihoods on the line to comfort and treat the infected victims. Volunteers provided medical aid to those who needed it. Whether you were a researcher developing the COVID-19 vaccine or simply someone who chose to wear a face mask in public, you helped contribute positively to the world during a historically tragic era.
We’ve also seen countries stand in solidarity to celebrate successes — and we’ll continue to do so.
The 2026 Winter Olympic Games begin in February 2026, and over 200 countries and territories will set aside their political differences for two and a half weeks to celebrate the world’s best athletes. Even if you don’t care for sports, the idea of countries supporting each other in times of extreme political tension is moving. In our modern climate, seeing athletes from different backgrounds compete respectfully is refreshing and necessary.
While global peace may look nearly impossible right now, humanity has historically found a reason and a means to unify. Whether we’re in crisis or celebration, we manage to put aside our differences to do more good than harm. So next time you feel particularly hopeless about the state of the world, do good and remember that the world can unify.
Featured Photo via Google Creative Commons.
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