When asking the question “What can benefit me the most?” Oftentimes we as humans gravitate towards things only for us and or material objects. But there’s a stronger answer to this question. 

Though some may disagree on its importance, due to more pressing issues, I personally believe that compassion is a solid answer to both benefit ourselves and other people.

We can all benefit from compassion at a time like this. Two examples of current issues are the fact that homelessness rates are up every year, and school shootings are at an all time high.

According to policyadvice.net, About seventeen out of every ten thousand people are homeless, which makes it around 0.17 percent of the population. That doesn’t sound like much but just that percent of the US population is over five hundred thousand people.

When we look at things like this, it’s easy to assume that we can do nothing about it. While that might be true for people with below average income, there are other things that can help the homeless.

One of those things is donating old clothes and blankets, and while donating won’t necessarily take them off the street, it will lower the death rate significantly.

Just an ounce of empathy can save a life or make it last long enough for that person to be in a better place. We could also one day become homeless and require these things that people would donate.

School shootings are another huge problem in our country that isn’t really seen anywhere else. From the beginning of this year, to October fifth, there have been thirty five school shootings, which is an all time high according to Education Week. For some students, there is a fear of going to school, or anywhere for that matter.

In England, shootings in general aren’t really a common occurrence as they have stricter gun laws than we do. An argument I’ve heard, for why we need easy possession of guns, is that it is a part of our rights.

True or not though, I believe that we need to show more compassion towards those who are being victimized by these shootings, which can be us or our children one day.

 Making the sacrifice of not being able to own a gun to save children is better than what we have going on right now. A way to do this is by voting for lawmakers that are pro gun control. 

The two problems listed might not involve us directly, but one day they might or it even might be a different issue. There are a million things that can only be accomplished together, and compassion is the glue that makes the “together.”

It doesn’t have to be much but if we gave everyone just a tiny amount of compassion like voting for people to make changes that affect others in a positive way, donating what you can to people in need, being just a little bit kind to someone, and many other things, I’m sure we’d thrive as a world, not just as a single person.