Suffering is an impossible thing to quantify or really look at objectively. Do we all suffer? Yes. Do some suffer more than others? Of course. But who decides what is suffering and what isn't? Is your suffering legitimate until faced with someone who clearly endures more than you? And then what. What happens to your own suffering? It doesn't just disappear. A lot of people create a narrative that says if you're not emptying your wallet or contributing to ending all inequalities that you're ungrateful, you lack perspective, and you aren't a good person.
We're all a product of our circumstances and environment. Therefore, to condemn someone who may not fully understand the power and privilege they posses is shortsighted. Without a doubt, we all should be contributing to helping the person next to us, as well as the person halfway around the world. It may sound cliche, but if we all really did are part in helping our worldwide community, there would be little suffering in the world. If we all did our 1 out of 7.4 billionth part, there would be no one who felt alone. I don't blame or shame anyone who doesn't, but it is everybody's job to walk through this world with acceptance and compassion. That's how you treat suffering. Not just by emptying your wallets and devoting your life to ending suffering, but devoting your life to just being a better 1/7.4 billionth on this earth.
I loved the distinction from money and totally agree. Change starts with you, not with your wallet.
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