Learning to Be Human: What The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon Can Teach Us About Kindness in a Divided World

In a time when politics, opinions, and identities seem to divide us more than ever, it’s worth revisiting two shows that quietly taught us how to live and love, beyond our differences, and maybe learn a thing or two about humanity and grace.

The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon might appear to be comedies about eccentric geniuses and awkward social interactions, but at their core, they are masterclasses in humanity, empathy, and emotional growth.

They remind us of something we often forget in today’s world: that being “right” isn’t nearly as important as being kind.

A Tale of Two Worlds

Watch the evening news or scroll through social media today, and it can feel like we’ve lost our ability to truly listen to one another. People shout instead of speaking, and insult instead of understanding. We’ve become quick to label, slow to forgive, and hesitant to admit that maybe, just maybe, we could learn something from someone different than us. 

In contrast, The Big Bang Theory created a world where people as different as Sheldon, Penny, Leonard, Raj, Howard, Amy, and Bernadette learned to coexist, not because they were the same, but because they chose to grow together.

If you are, by chance, a person with Christian beliefs, this is a direct throwback to the book of James and the verses: I9-20. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

They argued. They clashed. They misunderstood each other constantly. But they also stayed. They apologized. They learned. And most importantly, they loved each other anyway.

Emotional Growth in a Logical World

Sheldon Cooper may have been a genius, but he struggled deeply with understanding emotions and empathy. Over twelve seasons, we watched him evolve from self-centered and rigid to surprisingly tender, learning to say “thank you,” to comfort a friend, and even to celebrate the success of others.

That transformation didn’t come easily. It took friends who challenged him with patience, not cruelty. It took people like Leonard and Penny, who reminded him, sometimes painfully, that relationships matter more than theories.

In Young Sheldon, we see where that journey began. A boy trying to make sense of a confusing world, learning that intellect can open doors but compassion opens hearts. His family wasn’t perfect, but their love was steadfast. They showed that growth doesn’t mean losing who you are, it means learning how to bring your best self into the world without hurting others.

The Kindness Equation

If only we could apply that same equation to our own divided times.

Imagine a world where political debates were handled the way the Big Bang friends handled disagreements over takeout dinners, comic book debates, and genuine curiosity. Imagine if we saw differences in belief the way they saw differences in brilliance: as opportunities to expand, not to attack.

The characters in these shows didn’t always agree, but they always came back to the same truth, relationships matter more than winning.

And maybe that’s what’s missing from our public dialogue today. We’ve confused loudness for strength and outrage for wisdom. True strength is what Sheldon learned late in life, humility, accountability, and care for others. I believe it is never to late in life to show that type of strength...while we are alive.

Lessons for Today’s World

We could all use a little more of what the Cooper family and the Pasadena gang had:

• Acceptance even when it’s uncomfortable.
• Respect for people who think differently.
• Patience with those still learning how to grow.
• Empathy that doesn’t require agreement.
  

In this climate of division, both The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon remind us that diversity isn’t just about appearance. It’s about the variety of minds, hearts, and perspectives that make life meaningful.

They remind us that kindness doesn’t require sameness, and that intelligence without compassion is hollow.

Choosing to Be Better

Our current world often feels like a shouting match, but these shows whisper something gentler:

It’s okay to be different. It’s okay to not have it all figured out. What matters most is how we treat each other along the way.

Sheldon’s story, from boyhood genius to an awkward man surrounded by love, proves that people can change. And if he could learn to say “I’m sorry,” “I was wrong,” and “Thank you,” maybe we can too.

Because being human isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning, growing, and showing grace to others as they do the same.

In the end, The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon aren’t just about science, laughter, or nostalgia. They’re about something timeless. How to be human in a world that keeps testing our humanity. Just listen to Sheldon Cooper himself, whose lifelong goal was to win the Nobel Prize for Physics. He had prepared a 30-page speech. But, at that moment...he realized what the true prize had been all along. 

If we could all carry a little more of their humor, humility, and heart into our daily lives, especially in this political moment, we might just rediscover what the shows have been teaching us all along...

We don’t have to think alike to be kind.

XOXO,

Whimsy Jenny