Help make the world a better place

Almost every day, when we read the newspaper, turn on the TV or surf the internet, we see tragedies happening around the world. There are earthquakes, floods, heatwaves and other natural and man-made disasters.

A lot of people are suffering, and yet we often complain. We should do everything we can to help.

There's a 'void' in our hearts that needs to be filled. We should do something that will give us a sense of satisfaction. For example, we can be a volunteer. Helping people is a good way to develop our values and enhance our skills.

We also need to cherish what we have because we are blessed compared to many people in other parts of the world. I hope everyone can find a way to long-lasting happiness.

Katon Lee, Hang Seng School of Commerce

From the Editor

Thank you for your letter, Katon. The majority of people in Hong Kong are, on a global scale, very lucky. Most of us can afford to live in a clean home and buy healthy food. We have enough entertainment to keep us busy.

But many of us are still not satisfied, and spend our lives comparing ourselves to celebrities and other insanely rich people.

One of the first steps towards happiness is realising just how lucky you are. Of course we all have times when we feel low; when we feel that other people get all the luck, and we are being passed over in favour of someone else. But comparing ourselves to others will not make you happy.

You have to look at everything in your own life and realise that, while we may not always be able to afford the things we want, or may not live in a mansion or look like Daniel Wu/Bernice Liu/(insert your favourite heart-throb here), we have family, friends, health and a wonderful city in which to enjoy those things.

And once we realise how lucky we are, we can, just as you said, Katon, help others who are less fortunate, and help them to see the bright side of their lives.

Karly, Deputy Editor