What Is It That Connects Us?

Written by Saara Panot

Image source: Vecteezy

In an age shaped by global headlines, political division, and constant online debate, it can feel as though humanity is more fractured than ever. Yet beneath all this, there are consistent forces that bind us together. What connects us is not shared nationality or identical opinions. It is something deeper and more enduring: common experience, emotion, and need.

Basic human emotions are often universal. A child in Hanoi laughs in the same instinctive way as a child in London. A parent worries about their child’s future regardless of culture or income. During the early days of the pandemic, videos circulated of people clapping for healthcare workers from balconies across different countries. The languages were different. The buildings looked different. But the gratitude was the same. Collective fear and collective hope created a sense of shared humanity in desperate times. The way in which humans can push themselves and endure through hardships together is what makes these connections real.

Technology has also revealed how interconnected our daily lives truly are. Online fundraisers for disaster relief frequently receive donations from strangers continents away. When earthquakes, floods, or conflict occur, support often arrives from people who will never personally meet those affected. This willingness to help is evidence that empathy does not require proximity. On a smaller scale, connection is visible in ordinary routines. Students across the world experience exam anxiety. Workers feel the pressure of deadlines. Families gather for meals and argue over small things. These deeply personal moments create a silent understanding between strangers. For example, I’ve sat in classrooms where students stayed in their familiar groups, comfortable and cautious. Then the exam results came out. In that moment, the walls fell. Stress is universal, and so is relief. Shared emotion builds a bridge faster than any normal introduction could.

Perhaps most powerfully, stories continue to unite generations. Books written centuries ago still resonate because they explore ambition, jealousy, and loss. Music travels across cultures because rhythm and emotion are not limited by geography. When people recognise their own feelings in someone else’s story, connection becomes undeniable.

Ultimately, what connects us is our shared humanity. We all seek belonging, purpose, and understanding. Differences will always exist, and they should be respected. However, when we focus on the emotions and experiences that unite us, it becomes clear that the threads between us are stronger than the divisions that attempt to pull us apart.