COALESCING IN A SEA OF SELFISHNESS

COALESCING IN A

SEA OF SELFISHNESS

Coral reefs aren’t the vibrant wonderlands we once romanticized while watching “Finding Nemo” or “The Little Mermaid” as kids. Shimmering schools of fish, neon plants and exquisite marine fauna no longer live in a haven under the sea. Mother Nature’s rich masterpiece has since gone bleak, stripped of its glorious colors and deprived of some of its most unique organisms to a world gone gray. Like society, reefs must actively be conserved, or they will deteriorate. Collective negligence of pressing issues such as racial inequity, climate change and corporate greed will leave a society just as bleached. When coral bleaches, there’s a limited window for it to reverse back into its natural, fluorescent form. Tending to the reef’s vulnerable state undoes the damage of past actions, allowing its society to flourish even more harmoniously than ever before. Detaching the toxicity from self-love is the first step in making our reef that much more glorious. Individualism is not inherently toxic — it’s necessary for personal development and growth, and it revolves around the rights and goals of a single person. If you’re constantly giving and lending a helping hand to those around you, it’s sometimes necessary to have a selfish day to recharge your social battery. Others enjoy solitude simply for the sake of it. Spending time with yourself can enable you to learn more about yourself and, thus, how to better tend to and identify with that person. Discovering who you are and what you want to do in this life gives you the clarity that is needed to make a lasting impact in society. In a nurturing and beneficial relationship, both parties must be content with themselves. If you do not have self-love, it is harder to spread that appreciation to someone else. After all, you can’t pour from a glass half empty. Personal autonomy is “self-directing freedom and especially moral independence,” according to Merriam-Webster. When collective responsibility turns to negligence, we have the autonomy to stray away from groupthink, or the pressure to follow the beliefs of the masses to maintain harmony. Strong individualism is reflected in some of the most iconic historical figures. Corrie ten Boom, for example, broke free from toxic groupthink in 1940s Germany by hiding Jewish families from Nazis rather than supporting her German neighbors in rallying for violence and discrimination. At 15 years old, Malala Yousafzai used her voice to speak out against gender inequality in school systems after being shot by a Taliban leader. Ten Boom, Yousafzai and countless other barrier-breaking leaders spotlight the importance of straying from the collective when injustice is present. The clash between independence and interdependence surfaces various uncertainties; when does individualism become toxic? When should someone break tradition? Balancing individuality and collectivism is a tricky dynamic to juggle. Humans are exemplary at being individualistic, be it by looking out for themselves or acting on selfish instincts. Many find it more difficult to give up personal comfort for the greater good. Americans are recognized for their radical individualism. Independence, liberty and personal autonomy are freedoms that the United States proudly flaunts to the rest of the world. However, the “unity” aspect in the “United” States grows more ironic as Americans continue to wave personal freedoms as excuses for neglecting societal needs. Americans are rehearsed in turning the other way when others call out for help. Collective prosperity is not a guarantee, but it’s more likely when we’re hand-in-hand. We’re all in the same boat: floating on a giant rock in the middle of the universe trying to make sense of the world around us. Why not live harmoniously as one body among the people who understand us the most? Pouring trust into others is difficult but rewarding. Personal goals often lineup with societal goals, and we all need each other to move forward. I’m an arm, you’re a leg and your neighbor is a hand. We all have a part to play — embrace it. The state of society’s coral reef is up to us — do we allow our reef to grow discolored and lifeless? Or do we nurture the diverse, complex environment back into color? Discoloration is only permanent in the presence of inaction. You grab the shovel and I’ll grab the carbon activation — it’s time to reintroduce vibrancy to our reef.