What If -A Writing Challenge
Everyone had common sense, or at least remembered how it felt to be on the other side?
Not extraordinary intelligence.
Not degrees hanging on walls.
Not the ability to speak beautifully about values, kindness, respect, or humanity.
Just a little common sense.
What if we remembered how kindly we spoke when we needed someone’s help?
How politely we called.
How carefully we explained our problem.
How grateful we sounded when someone stood beside us.
And what if, when the same person needed us, we remembered that same feeling?
What if we did not suddenly become too busy?
What if our tone did not change?
What if the person who once mattered because we needed them still mattered when they needed us?
What if we noticed the difference between the words we speak and the person we become when it is time to act?
We often speak beautifully about kindness.
We say, “We should understand others.”
We say, “Everyone goes through difficult times.”
We say, “We should help each other.”
But what if our actions could hear our words?
Would they recognise us?
What if the person giving advice today remembered the advice tomorrow?
What if the person speaking about honesty remained honest when honesty became inconvenient?
What if the person asking others to respect their feelings remembered that other people have feelings too?
What if the person demanding understanding understood that understanding cannot always travel in one direction?
What if we stopped changing our principles according to our position?
When we need something, we want people to be considerate.
When someone else needs something, we sometimes suddenly remember our boundaries.
When we are hurt, we want everyone to understand the circumstances behind our behaviour.
When someone else behaves badly, we sometimes forget that they may have circumstances too.
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What if we could see ourselves from the other side?
What if, for one moment, we experienced our own behaviour as someone else experiences it?
Would our words sound the same?
Would our actions still make sense?
What if every promise we made stayed somewhere in our memory?
What if every favour we received stayed with us—not as a debt, but as a reminder of how it feels when someone shows up for us?
What if we remembered the people who answered our calls when we had no one else to call?
What if we remembered the doors that opened for us when we were standing outside?
What if we remembered the kindness we considered small because it was given to us freely?
And what if we realised that someone else may be standing in the exact place where we once stood?
What if everyone had enough common sense to understand that people notice the difference between what we say and what we do?
They notice.
Maybe they don't always speak about it.
Maybe they simply become quieter.
Maybe they stop asking.
Maybe they stop expecting.
Maybe they simply learn something about us that we never intended to teach them.
What if common sense was not about knowing what is right and wrong?
What if it was simply about remembering?
Remembering how we felt when we needed help.
Remembering how much someone's presence meant when we were struggling.
Remembering the words we once spoke with complete conviction.
Remembering that the person standing in front of us is a human being—not useful only when we need something from them.
What if everyone had common sense?
Perhaps then, our words and our actions would finally recognise each other.
Tagging Monika Mahadev and Manmeet Singh Bhatia to carry these words forward.
This story is part of the writing challenge, “What If,” currently accepting submissions for publication with Clear & Kind. What would your household look like if children were suddenly in charge of all the decisions? Let your imagination run wild and share your story with us by October 31st!
