In case you haven’t noticed, we live in a “me!” generation. Americans no longer put the needs of others in front of their own. They care more about making money than making relationships. They let their own insecurities stand in the way of their love for others, so they choose to put them down to make themselves feel better.

I don’t know about you, but I’m sick of it.

Everywhere you look, people are sharing their troubles on Facebook and Twitter, and posting five selfies a day on Instagram. Don’t get me wrong, selfies are fantastic, but people seem to be overdoing it. You might as well be saying, “Look at me! I’m so pretty!” Teenagers begin determining their worth based off of how many followers they have on Twitter or the number of likes they get on Instagram. They live for that split second where they feel like they’re worth something due to their online popularity. Many of them even choose to let complete strangers follow them just for the high hopes of getting more likes. I hate to burst that bubble, but your worth is not based off of a number.

And then there is the issue of “I’ve gotta have it.” The iPhone 6 just came out, and people everywhere are trading in their old, slow phones get the new and improved iPhone. Honestly, there is probably nothing wrong with the older iPhones. But of course, everyone else is getting the new iPhone so we just have to have it too. Nobody thinks of the kids in other countries who are unable to sleep tonight because of the agonizing ache in their stomach due to starvation. Nobody notices the woman working through the night just so her children can grow up with a few nice things. And the homeless man on the side of the road? We just pass by him without a second glance, unaware that he fought for our country many years ago.

Honestly, our lack of appreciation for other people stems from pride and insecurity. For some reason I don’t understand, it makes some people feel good to make others feel bad. It’s almost as if judging other people makes you feel better about yourself. This may be human nature, but it’s not how it’s supposed to be. Making people feel worse about themselves does not make you better than them; if anything, it’s the opposite because it proves what kind of person you are.

Do we just not care anymore? Is society so messed up that we feel forced to “fend for ourselves” instead of caring about other people? Yes, we do live in a self-centered generation, but it isn’t too late. There are many people who really do care about others, and for that, I am grateful. I think it’s time for us to stop thinking of ourselves, and start thinking about other people. No, this does not mean letting people walk all over you. Instead, offer them the same grace you would like to be given in the same situation. My challenge for you? Do one thing a day that will make someone happy. It doesn’t have to be huge. Believe me, you will be amazed at how one act of kindness can change someone’s day.