When Cal Fussman interviewed famous people, he would often ask the powerful, “what’s the greatest lesson your father ever taught you?” Apparently it would bring some to tears, or at least invoke deep reflection. I asked myself this recently, and it was actually a fairly easy answer.

My Grandpa was a civil engineer—he designed water systems for cities all over the world throughout the ‘70s, ‘80s, and ‘90s. This meant he traveled a lot, and his family often went with him (this eventually trickled down to me and explains why I love to travel so much). My Dad told me when he was living in Malaysia at 17, he learned something that transformed him: no matter what language they speak, where they are born, or how they live, people all laugh and cry and smile for the same reasons.

Every single person on the planet shares this. We all laugh at funny things, we all smile when we’re happy or joyous, and we all cry when we're sad. There isn’t a single culture on Earth that deviates from this—because we are all human. It’s in our biology. From this perspective, it’s clear our cultural and language differences are relatively minor. We might eat different food or ascribe to different fashions or lifestyles, but we are all human. Our beliefs regarding religion or politics or society might differ, but we are all the same species.

This idea is profound. I can only imagine how transformative it was for my dad at 17. He taught me this growing up, both within our diverse community where we lived and in showing me different parts of the world. It’s held true for me my whole life, and has helped me forge connections with people from all backgrounds. Some of my greatest friendships have come from it.

And I believe our planet needs more of it. Let’s recognize that we all laugh and cry and smile for the same reasons. Let’s recognize that we are all one species. Let’s recognize that we’re all on this one little rock together.

Thanks Dad for the great lesson.