Even before we started farming, we the human beings had already begun to interfere with the planet in order to shape the ecosystem. We started to hunt other animals, and slowly we began to control the earth without even realizing what we were doing. We achieved all these targets because of the trust and cooperation that existed among human beings, and at that time it was a necessity for our survival on this planet. As a result, our numbers increased day by day. Today we have reached a point where there is hardly any space left for other animals on the planet. That is the level of encroachment we have created. We committed all these actions on the foundation of trust among ourselves, and also on the foundation of over confidence. Yet today, the same human society that grew because of trust has completely lost that trust.
We do not trust anyone anymore, whether it is a friend, a relative, or even a family member. It will become extremely difficult for human beings to survive in such a condition, because trust is the base of our social ecosystem. When the base collapses, we already know what will happen to the entire structure.
Earlier, during any deal or money handling, there were very few documents for guarantee. A promise with a handshake, or simply giving one’s word, was enough to complete a transaction. People lived with the belief that a spoken commitment carried more value than a written one. If someone borrowed money or offered help, there was a natural understanding that it would return in the right time. Today, if you attempt the same practice, countless litigations and complications come in between, and even a small misunderstanding becomes a large legal battle.
In such a situation, only the documents speak. During many discussions it takes hours to convince a person, but in the end, only the documents are accepted, and the spoken words are dismissed. We have reached a stage where the value of a document is more powerful than the value of human intention. Words have lost their dignity, and relationships have lost their depth.
There were days when neighbours lived like extended families, sharing food, emotional support, and even financial help without any hesitation. If someone fell sick, the entire community stood around that home. Today, even neighbours do not know each other’s names. People live behind locked doors, suspicious minds, and guarded emotions. The fear of betrayal has become stronger than the desire for connection.
There were also elders in households who used to say that wealth stays safe not because of strong locks but because of strong bonds. Today, those bonds are weak, but the locks are strong. This itself reveals the transformation of our society.
It is time for us to reflect on what we lost along the way. We shaped the world with trust, but we destroyed that same trust with our own hands. If we want humanity to survive with dignity, the rebuilding must start from the same foundation we abandoned, the foundation of trust, understanding, and shared responsibility. Only then can we restore the balance that we once took for granted.