So many people think my generation is the laziest folk that has ever existed. But we are such nice souls. I believe we are the first generation that doesn’t have to fight for anything really, depending on where you grew up, of course. My grandparents lived through a war and had to build up a whole country with their bare hands. They know how to work really hard and passed that knowledge and wisdom on to the generation of my parents. They learned that and implied it their own way. They do their best with what they learned and I try to forgive the mistakes they have made because they didn’t know it better either. Empathy is a form of love. Maybe the hardest, but also the most valuable one. Now we are here in such a prosperous life, with enough food, money and are missing literally nothing. And maybe that’s the problem too.

Maybe that’s where the road diverges and some are confused. They believe they don’t have to do anything or aren’t sure what to do because they feel overwhelmed. But then there’s the others, who know how to truly appreciate this world we’ve been born into and want to make the most of it. We want to give something back and are trying our best at still being a bit rebellious. Just like you did when you were young.
Be kind, we’re doing the best we can, just like you.

I believe that the we’ve learned that we need to change our mindset in order to lead a more fulfilling life. If earlier people tried to improve their life by changing the outer circumstances, now we’re learning how to grow by changing internally. And even though many cultures have practiced this for thousands of years, I feel like only now it is becoming more popular and reaching much more people than ever before.

I need to put this into my perspective. By an author on Medium I was made aware, that my view is one-sided. I’m 20 years old and was born in Austria. My parents were in the fortunate financial position to take care of two children and offer us a prosperous life. By travelling to Central America I was faced with what life could also look like, for the first time. Slowly I started to realize how privileged I was. As a kid and teenager I had heard, that there are poorer countries on this planet but I’d never fully understood the true meaning of not having a roof over my head. Even though I thought I was pretty informed on the topic by now, I recently gained the understanding that even my passport strength index was part of my privilege. I wasn’t aware how hard it was for many others, who would love to travel, to even get a visa. It’s one of the things I never really had to worry about.

This might sound arrogant but I in no means want to insult anyone. I’m trying to unravel what the circumstances I’ve been born into mean to me and how they can be set into perspective in this wide world. While traveling it has always been important to me, to indulge in the local culture. Actively I approach locals to learn about their situations and their life. It is important, in my opinion, to take as much knowledge as possible from other cultures. And then there’s this feeling of responsibility. Because of having been born into this fortunate living situation, I also feel responsible to give back to others.

Our privilege is not ours to keep. Every single soul on this planet should be cared for and held responsible by the same laws. Health and stability in financial affairs, food supply and overall safety should definitely not be limited to a few countries. Sadly the world does not look like that yet, but I promise to attribute my grain of sand to this immense beach. And I hope you will do the same.