Where’s the Human Code?

We often hear about “girl code” or “boy code” — unspoken rules of loyalty or behavior within certain groups. But what about human code? Shouldn’t there be a universal understanding of what it means to truly be human?

How do we navigate the contradictions of our existence — celebrating holidays, sharing joy, and going about our lives, while in other parts of the world, people are suffering unimaginably? Like in Gaza, where lives are shattered daily. How do we reconcile being present in our own environment without shutting down our senses to the pain of others?

At what point do we stop being human? Or do we ever truly stop? Is it okay to feel sadness during the holidays because others are struggling? Or does being human mean holding space for both—grief for others and gratitude for what we have?

I don’t have the answers, but something doesn’t feel right. As the world keeps turning, the question lingers: where’s our human code?