When Compassion Mattered More Than Comfort: A Reflection on Changing Social Values

In earlier times, people had strong bonds with society and with other members of the community. They shared whatever they went through in their lives and never hesitated to seek help or opinions from others. They spent time together and shared both the good and the bad phases of their lives. From the stories we hear from our elders, such as our grandmothers and grandfathers, we can infer that people in those days lived peaceful lives. They were content with what they had and did not have the greed of hoarding material possessions. They were not materialistic; instead, they shared whatever they had, whether it was food or other necessities.

They shared without worrying about what they would eat or do the next day because they had strong faith in the Almighty. Even when they had little to eat, they still shared, believing that everyone deserved food, no matter what. Along with working hard, they also made time to visit their relatives. Distance never mattered much, and visiting relatives at least a couple of times a year was considered a routine.

Nowadays, people are more oriented towards materialistic living. They are running after luxurious lifestyles and hardly care about what is happening in their neighbours’ homes or whether others have enough to eat. People are more focused on collecting more and more. In this pursuit, they have stopped visiting relatives and caring about what is happening in others’ lives. Many do not even care for their parents or elders.

I have come across several examples where people have abandoned their parents simply because they are earning money in some other country and do not have time to visit them. Their parents are left desperate, eagerly waiting for their children to return. Some parents have even been admitted to old-age homes, where they are cared for by people who have no blood relations with them, but who work out of compassion for humanity. This is what greed can do to a person.

For me, money holds no value compared to loving and caring for one’s parents. It is our parents who sacrificed their comforts and luxuries to raise us and make us capable of earning. While running behind materialistic things, we must always keep our parents in mind. Society has changed, and people now compare each other based on money and luxuries, but no one gives importance to care and compassion.

People should value the care they give to their parents more than money and material comforts. I have seen many elderly people suffering, and it is true for all of us that we will reach that phase of life one day. If we treat our parents this way, our children may do the same to us, because karma always returns.

Not only must we take care of our parents, but we must also remain social. We should visit our relatives and neighbours, know about their lives, exchange ideas, and share both tough and good times. Staying away from society harms us in many ways. We must carry our responsibilities, maintain balance, and strive not only for personal happiness but also to fulfil our duties properly.

By taking care of our parents, staying connected with our neighbours, and nurturing compassion, we can make our society stronger. I strongly believe that with simple steps and sincere efforts, we can reverse the changes that have occurred over time and make life and society beautiful again.

** All the above photogtaphs are AI generated**

Thank you for going through my post. Have a great time ahead.