SHARE
@omshivaom - Instagram
Sharing is caring. It’s one of the first things that we learn in school, one of the first things to shape our behaviour. We learn to share crayons, we share secrets with our friends, and we don’t bring candy to school unless we have enough to share with the entire class. This idea of sharing is deeply ingrained in us by the time we are of an independent age. It becomes a natural instinct.
Today, we share a lot more than just crayons and French fries. We share everything we possibly can. What may have made someone bashful and shy in the early 2000s is extremely nonchalant in 2025, almost expected. Our ability to share our lives with those we care for, and even those we don’t, has increased dramatically, so the amount we share those experiences has also seen an increase. Where we would normally re-count a fantastic meal for those who may not have been present, we can now bring those people into the fold and have them at the dinner table with us. Even if we are alone at a drive-thru, we can share our experience of getting a Big Mac with whoever we want.
It is a natural instinct in humans to want to share. From the very first humans, we picked berries and hunted animals to bring back to the tribe. Sharing is hard-wired into our genetics. We thrive in groups; meals are more enjoyable in groups, even that Taco Bell combo from the drive-through is better with friends. The car feels warmer, the food tastes better, and the time passes with a smile. We have been sharing since the dawn of man. We share language, we share art and culture; every inkling of knowledge in the history of mankind was shared in one way or another. Sir Isaac Newton said of himself that he stood on the shoulders of giants in order to be able to accomplish what he did. Human progress has come from a distribution of knowledge, not a hoarding of it.
It is sometimes said that competition breeds innovation. If that is true, then it must also be said that collaboration multiplies innovation, as the sharing of knowledge and resources is infinitely more beneficial to the research and development of new ideas and technology. Take Linux for example, an Operating System that sits quietly between Windows and macOS, capable of running on literally anything from your washing machine to the Large Hadron Collider. Linux would not be possible if not for the shared resources of open-source software.
From the perspective of a community member, sharing is absolutely critical to the growth and stability of one’s environment. Institutions such as libraries and even ride-share apps reduce scarcity and provide people with the opportunity to fulfill their needs without creating waste or spending money they may not need to. Things that may not otherwise be used to any effect can contribute to the community as they continue to extract value throughout their life.
Apart from being something that is cold and quantifiable, the act of sharing is also something that builds and strengthens social trust within communities. In times of crisis, people can usually only depend on one another, and it is in these moments that we see the true value of a community that has an ingrained culture of co-operation. Something that goes beyond sharing milk and sugar. Being able to entrust the lives of your loved ones to your community is rare, and in a life-and-death situation, may be the loaded dice you need in order to survive.
Sharing your cute meal on your socials will always be something that people do, but there is a much deeper connection to be found in our relationships and communities. When we truly dig deep and find the people we can share our lives with, and who are willing to share their lives with us, we can start to feel like we’ve built something that will last. Our hearts and minds will be tested time and time again, in ways that I could not know. What I do know is that we will only make it through the storms that await us, together. If we cannot find a way to lean on each other for support, to put our differences aside and view the bigger picture that is our life, we will be truly doomed. But I believe we have the capacity to share our burdens just as we share our triumphs, because no man can carry it all alone.
