In physics, there is a field of study called thermodynamics. It studies the way heat behaves. There are three basic laws of thermodynamics. I’ll spare you the science, but what they amount to is that heat always spreads out to reach equilibrium in a system. Everything strives to be the same temperature. Because energy has to be spent to do work (ie, anything), eventually the universe will reach a state where everything is the same temperature and nothing can happen. 

There is a joke in the field about these three laws, and it goes like this:

“The first rule of thermodynamics says that you can’t win. (Energy in a system always remains constant.)

The second rule of thermodynamics says that you can’t break even. (Energy is always made inaccessible when work is done.)

The third rule of thermodynamics says that you can’t quit. (All systems tend toward equilibrium.)”

There is a commentary on this particular joke that goes like this:

“Every major philosophy that attempts to make life seem meaningful negates one of these laws.

Capitalism is based on the premise that you can win.

Socialism is based on the premise that you can break even.

Mysticism is based on the premise that you can quit.”

I think about this a lot. I see a lot of struggle these days, both in large scale with election season, and in the small scale with the individual struggles we witness at $O$. Everyone is struggling to survive or to climb to the top. To win, or at least break even. And so many times, these laws seem to be true in more than just thermodynamics. But there are exceptions, and most of those exceptions are related to one thing: kindness.

Physics is mechanistic. It follows rules and doesn’t care. It treats everyone and everything the same. Humans are not. We can make choices. We can choose to be kind, to help others. We can reject greed and embrace altruism. We don’t have a choice about the laws of thermodynamics, but these laws don’t have to be true of society. We can make them different. All it takes is a choice.