Why you should reach out to hurting people

The world is full of people who are lonely and hurting. It is filled with people who just wish that there would be someone else to listen to their difficult stories.

We live in an era when it is possible to communicate with a person living thousands of miles away in a matter of seconds, and yet, this is the same era in which one hardly, if ever, speaks with his/her neighbour.

We live in a world of contradictions. Ours is a world where it is easier to turn on the computer and log on to Facebook, than it is to reach out and hold the hand of someone who is in grief.

We are an increasingly becoming a planet of extremely selfish people. We worry about our immediate needs and about what others think of us, and yet, it never strikes us to reach out. even the advice that is provided these days focuses on the aspect of survival and accomplishment more than reaching out to help others.

It is hardly surprising then, that there are a large number of people in this world who are lonely. the irony is that though the world's population is the highest ever in recorded history, it is more a lonely place now, than ever before.

There was a time when a stranger asking for directions would be helped without a second thought. Now though, such a person is looked at with distrust. What if he is a serial-killer?

the onus these days among a large number of people, is to succeed at any cost. Even giving up on values is not considered too great a price to pay for success.

Now is a time in history that there are more scams than ever before. The internet is filled with scamming websites that promise the world to gullible people, and then leave them in the lurch. These websites are started by ambitious individuals who have either abandoned their value systems or were never taught values in the first place.

Everyone looks to get the best deal or even better, often being inconsiderate, cheating others of what is due to them.

More people than ever before are taking the extreme step of ending their lives. Disillusioned with the hard fact that they are not loved or respected by others as they desire, and seeing only a future filled with suffering before them, they choose to die rather than to live.

Incidentally, it is in the richest countries that the rate of suicide is the highest. There appears to be a direct correlation between the suicide rate in a country and the level of materialism in its society.

More and more people are falling into depression and using anti-depressants. Many people find it impossible to even fall asleep because their minds are full of worry, and they are not able to switch-off.

The world is becoming more and more stressful by the day. Even children are becoming stressed enough to develop heart ailments.

People are running from place to place and not knowing why they are running. Everyone is in a perennial hurry, trying to get ahead in a life that is bound to drive them to the edge of despair.

In this very cruel world that we live in, one is called to make a choice between living an empty life of materialism and living a life of outreach to others.

The materialistic life has loads of perks and comforts on offer, and yet, it is essentially an empty life of dissatisfaction.

The life of outreach is one of tremendous difficulty, and yet, ultimately, it is fulfilling.

The point here, it must be made clear, is not to make social workers or activists of everyone who reads this article. The point here, is to encourage you, the reader, to make a little time in your undoubtedly busy life, and reach out in a small way, to someone.

That someone could be anyone. Even your little niece who wants you to spend a little time with her is a candidate.

The action you take to reach out to someone could be as simple as dialing your best friend's number on your mobile and having a 5 minute long casual chat with him/her.

Go do it.