In his song “What Do I Know,” Ed Sheeran sings about knowing how to make a difference in this world, despite people telling him he doesn’t know anything because he never went to college. The line in this song that sticks with me most is “Love and understanding, positivity” because he is right—we need to give and receive all of these things. We seem to be getting away from loving, understanding, and being positive toward our friends and families and toward strangers. Despite the differences and unique qualities everyone in the world possesses, we all have one thing in common: we all need “love and understanding, positivity.”

Love has the power to change people for the better, to open us up to new possibilities, and to lift us up to new heights. Everyone needs love—caring, compassionate love. It doesn’t have to be romantic love; it can be love from friends or family. However, I would like to propose a new kind of love: a love for strangers. It would not be the same as the love we have for our friends, families, or romantic partners, but it would be love nevertheless. We should love all people simply because they are people. Just because we don’t know someone does not mean that person deserves less love or no love from us. Love is expressed in a variety of ways, especially to and from different people. Love for strangers can be expressed in simple ways, such as holding the door for them, greeting them, smiling at them, and being genuinely kind. I don’t think this idea is radical, and I think it’s completely within reach. Just as Ed Sheeran writes in his songs, we should show love to each other, and it just might change the world.

Understanding is the foundation of our relationships. Everyone wants to be understood, just as everyone wants to be loved. We need to take the time to understand our family, our friends, and the people around us. Before we judge, we need to imagine all possibilities and make an assessment about how we would react under similar circumstances. We need to start trying to see the good in everyone because it is certainly there. Understanding why someone does something, how something is done, and who someone is will open us up to new ways of doings things and new ways of looking at life. We must first understand before we can be understood. This could change the world.

Positivity is the simplest of perspectives, but it can move mountains. Children come into the world with positivity filling their bodies; it is adults who discourage and strip them of their positivity. Positivity can be applied in all situations, and we should not discourage anyone for being optimistic by saying that it is more practical to be realistic. When realism gets in the way of optimism, we lose the positivity we have held onto from childhood, and this causes fear, hate, and other negative forces to enter our minds. We must hold onto positivity as we live so that we can wash away the negativity that threatens to change our society.

“Love and understanding, positivity” all have the power to change so much more than we can imagine. We can change the world by being givers of these necessities and perpetuating a culture of kindness. Ed Sheeran’s song tells us that music can change the world by bringing us together to deliver a message, and I would like to believe that we can help him do that. “Just remember life is more than fitting in your jeans—it’s / love and understanding, positivity.”