Spreading smiles, enriching lives

What does it take to give? A large heart, some cash, a needy person, an urge to do something for someone, little bit of time, and a noble thought…

The Daan Utsav messages, Joy of Giving Week at workplaces, collection drives at residential societies, and various campaigns mobilising support for poor children, the elderly, women or people in need of relief and rehabilitation – the list goes on… so much so, that many-a-times, we wonder who is more in need of our help and how should we go about choosing and addressing a cause.  

On a recent visit to a local orphanage, a glance at the donation register revealed numerous entries, of people who donated some cash, sponsored a meal, or offered snacks like a slice cake or biscuits. There were few persons who shared their old clothes or bedsheets, useful household items and items of health and hygiene.

There is no doubt that everyone is making a sincere effort to make the world a better place to live. However, is this enough or is there something lacking in our efforts, in what we choose to share with or offer to the needy, or does the basic thought process need to be revisited and reenergised.

Spread your wings far and beyond – the buck will never stop

Well, charity begins at home, yet it does not and need not stop there. However, there is a fine line between giving what you want, and giving what they need. Only when we start recognising, understanding and bridging this gap, will we make inroads towards a better and brighter future and holistic improvement in lives of people around.

Few questions that could lead you to the right channel: 

1. Do I want to give something just to experience the joy and fulfillment of a donation? 
2. Do I want to offer something to someone, just because I have too many clothes, vessels or items of furniture, and I want to empty some space for new stuff? 
3. Do I want to join my friends and family in supporting a cause, to avoid feeling excluded?
4. Do I want to be part of such an exercise because I believe I can make a difference to the world out there, and to the people living around me? 
5. Do I want to share my assets or belongings with those who matter to me, so that they feel loved and cared for, and will reciprocate in some manner later on?

Whatever be the answer to these questions, the thought of giving, caring and sharing needs no justification.

Plugging gaps – finding the lacuna

As a giver, you can choose the cause you wish to support, decide the recipient of your goodwill, and the size and scale of your benevolence.

Given our cultural backgrounds and upbringing, it is natural to find ways to share our good fortune, personal belongings and items of value with our support systems, the people who make life easier for us day in and day out – be it housemaids, gardeners, drivers, security guards, and housekeeping staff looking after our residential and office premises.

If we step out of our comfort zone, there are orphanages and homes for small children, women and the elderly, rehabilitation centres for victims of terminal diseases, or areas under flyovers inhabited by the homeless, who along with their children, try and make a living by selling goods at traffic signals.

Still further on, we have initiatives such as tree plantations, building homes in rural areas, caring for animals, conserving natural resources, promoting the need for sanitation and hygiene, waste management, protecting and restoring heritage sites, many of which we also associate with, under our employers’ or companies’ agenda for Corporate Social Responsibility.

Be human, yet humble

Our ancestors always stressed on ‘not letting the left hand know what the right hand did’. Well, in today’s world, where social media screams at the drop of a hat, and WhatsApp just does not let you breathe without clicking the forward button, agree this is a tough ask. Yet, a conscious effort to remain focused on the task, without giving in to momentary highs, can help you meet this goal.

Sharing my own experience here, I celebrated my son’s fourth birthday last year, by throwing a small party for all his little friends at our community hall. Following that, on his star birthday (as per the Hindu calendar), I took him to a local orphanage which had 200 girls, and distributed food packets from Monginis to all of them. I had a close friend and her son with me, and the three of us helped my son hand over the packets to the girls with his own hands. He stood there for over an our and with a smile on his face, carried on with the task. Later, when a close relative asked me for some pics, I replied that I did not click any, not only because I did not want to share visual images of this event, but more so because I never wanted any of the recipients to feel overwhelmed.

The point is, let us not mix charity with our personal or professional image. As long as we maintain this balance, we will be contributing towards building an equal world, where equality lies not just in incomes or livelihoods or standards of living, but also lies in how each individual perceives herself, be it her attributes, education, social status or the overall state of existence.

Not just in kind, but also in body and mind

Philanthropy always culminates into giving something, be it in the form of cash or items of need, building facilities and infrastructure such as schools, hospitals, etc, or protecting the universe, yet it can also take the form of words, thoughts, ideas and services.

Speak to your housemaid or driver for ten minutes a day, understand their problems, and encourage them to build a better world for their children. Teach them how to save money to purchase a house, or for funding their children’s education, by sharing information on insurance policies, child endowment plans or systematic investment schemes for mutual funds. Tell them ways to ensure their children are well-educated and properly nourished, and are getting the right environment to spread their wings. This too can go a long way in improving the quality of life for the coming generation.

If you are looking for ways to spend a weekend in a more purposeful manner, visit a home for the needy or a rehabilitation centre, and spend some time reading good books to them, or just lend them your ear. Even better, volunteer with a local NGO or community to help them in initiatives such as blood or organ donation. You will return home with a smile and more purpose and life to your years. 

Comment less, contribute more

Commenting on each and every act or post has become a way of life for many around us; however, it is important to remember, ‘to each, his own’. Instead of commenting on what someone did or did not do, or could have done better, let us look within, and find ways and means to contribute more to the people of our society and nation.

After all, a simple act of kindness creates endless ripples.