Solidarity - Searching for a definition

When you are a child you don't yet belong completely to the world of words; you find them intriguing, mesmerizing even, but you can't embrace them as a vital part of yourself. Even so, you don't need a vast vocabulary to spell "solidarity," but rather a heart open to new experiences. And every child has plenty of that.

We learn at a very young age that we are unique, and that thought gives us power and builds our ego. Hopefully things don't end there. The next step is coming to terms with our surroundings, learning to recognize different manifestations of love and to nourish the kind of emotions that don't appear to bring immediate satisfaction.

Now we are well on the way of encountering differences and clashing perspectives and we become frustrated, because it's in our nature to feel that way. It's much easier to live with the perception that we have been wronged, than to reach out for a fellow human being and be completely open and vulnerable. But we have the capacity to do that through constant practice, and learning and working on ourselves is a true gift that benefits us in many ways.

If we are raised well, sooner or later we accept the fact that it's not all about us and that we need to co-exist with our family, our friends and the ever-growing list of our acquaintances. We know that if our sister is sick and isn't allowed to eat sweets, we shouldn't have any either for the time being. We are aware that if our friend breaks a vase because we pushed him a little harder than planned, that it is a shared fault. And it doesn't always feel great, but it gives us a sense of belonging - and as social creatures we should value that more than the cheap thrill of taking the easy way out.

Solidarity is when someone dear to you is battling cancer and you shave your head in support. It's when you commemorate lives lost with a minute of silence, solemn and stern. It is contained in every word that you use to protect a colleague who has been falsely accused, or a child that has been bullied. Solidarity is each penny that you give to charity or spend on buying a meal for someone in need. It's a matter of incalculable value that lives through our good deeds.

I believe that we like how big and mighty some words are when we pour them out of our mouth. Words like 'equality,' 'morality,' 'solidarity' and the such. When you release them you instantly get washed over by a sense of importance, you want to use them. But life is not made up of big words, but rather big, courageous acts. And you don't have to slay a dragon to be a true hero; in these times it's enough to show humanity through simple acts of selflessness and consideration. And this might be a bold statement, but I think it's not something you can thoroughly define - it's something you possess within yourself, it's something you feel profoundly. It's a deep-rooted need. And when you can go to sleep without second thoughts, you know you're doing it right.