“We often say ‘I’ when we talk about our achievements, but is it really just ‘I’? What if the life you’ve built is a collective effort, an intricate dance of connections you haven’t fully acknowledged?”

During a simple beach walk, I found myself immersed in thoughts that brought me to a profound realization: Life, when viewed from the lens of community, transforms from an ‘I-centric’ perspective to a ‘we-centric’ reality. At first glance, this might seem like an obvious distinction, but as I connected the dots during that peaceful stroll, it struck me just how pervasive the ‘I’ mindset is in our daily lives.

Conversations, both casual and deep, often revolve around ‘I did this,’ ‘I achieved that,’ ‘I am going here.’ The starting point is always ‘I.’ But is it really just ‘I’? The more I reflected, the more I realized how much we rely on others, often without even recognizing it. If someone hadn’t taught you to read, you wouldn’t have learned to read. If someone hadn’t helped you take your first steps, would you have learned to walk? It’s clear that nothing we do is truly done in isolation; it’s always a collective effort.

This thought led me to reconsider the content I see daily, especially on social media. So many posts are about how someone is grateful for a particular person or moment. Yet, being grateful isn’t about just one individual; it’s about everything and everyone around us. Gratitude is not an exclusive circle; it’s a web that connects us all. The idea of not surrounding oneself with ‘bad people’ also struck me. Life is a balance of yin and yang—good and bad, light and dark. But the truth is, we all embody both aspects, and everyone is simply doing their best with the tools they’ve been given. There is no absolute good or bad, no higher or lower. We are literally one.

In the bustling city, this concept often gets lost. There, I felt overwhelmingly alone, disconnected from the world around me. But here in Ecuador, the feeling of oneness is almost palpable. It’s not just a concept, an idea, or a passing thought; it’s a lived experience. I believe I understand it just enough to put it into words, though I struggle to hold onto that thought long enough to make it a constant in my life. But now, I have an anchor—a place within myself to which I can return.

Life is a continuous cycle of falling and getting back up again. But in this cycle, it’s crucial to remember not to exclude anyone or anything. Each person we encounter, each experience we have, is part of the collective whole. We are all one, and understanding this can transform how we live, how we interact with others, and how we see ourselves in the world.

Living in the city, surrounded by the noise and the rush, it’s easy to forget this simple truth. The ‘I’ mindset takes over, and we start to feel isolated, even when surrounded by thousands of people. But in a place like Ecuador, where life moves at a different pace and the connection between people feels stronger, the ‘we’ mindset naturally emerges. It’s a reminder that we are never truly alone and that every step we take, every move we make, is part of something much bigger than ourselves.

As I walked along the beach, the ocean waves gently lapping at my feet, I felt a sense of peace and clarity that I hadn’t felt in a long time. It was as if the universe was gently nudging me to remember this truth: that we are all connected, all part of a greater whole. The solitude I once felt in the city seemed to melt away, replaced by a deep sense of belonging and connection.

This realization isn’t something I can hold onto permanently—life’s challenges and distractions will inevitably pull me away from it. But I now have a reference point, a memory of that walk on the beach, to which I can return whenever I start to feel lost or disconnected. It’s a reminder that no matter how alone I might feel at times, I am never truly alone. We are all one, and that is a powerful, comforting truth to carry with me wherever I go.

In conclusion, life is not just about ‘I’—it’s about ‘we.’ It’s about understanding that every person we encounter, every experience we have, is part of a larger tapestry that makes up our lives. In this interconnected world, we must remember to embrace the collective, to appreciate the contributions of others, and to recognize that we are all in this together. Whether in a bustling city or a quiet seaside town, the truth remains: we are all one, and that connection is what gives life its true meaning.

“Reflect on your own life: How much of your success is due to the people around you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.”