How My Mother’s Actions Taught Me To Make Kindness A Way Of Life

Small acts of everyday kindness go a long way in making the world a better place. Make it a habit to help others in any way you can.

I had come home for a few weeks during my pregnancy, to be pampered by my mother. And it goes without saying that I loved every bit of it.

On one relaxed lazy morning during my stay, as I sat switching TV channels aimlessly in the living room, the doorbell rang. There were a few women who looked like labourers at the door. They were asking my mother for tea. Knowing her, I knew that she would oblige. I wasn’t really surprised when she went into the kitchen to prepare some tea. But what caught my attention, was the quantity of tea she had prepared. It seemed to be for around ten people.

After they had left, my mother told me that the labourers worked in the vicinity of our house and would regularly visit her for tea and water when they would get tired. She would offer tea for all of them every time they came, even on busy days. I was amazed and asked my Mom as to why they never asked others in the neighborhood. The answer was obvious, “No one else helped!”

It soon dawned upon me that my mother has always been this way. I have in fact learnt about humanity and kindness by just watching the way my parents are. It may not be a big deal to make tea for a few people, but, how many of us actually do so? Especially for people who are not going to give us any benefit?

You often find people saying, “What is the need to do so much always?” or “It is madness. It spoils them and then they keep troubling you for everything.” But this is just a perspective. The act of kindness is just an example of the zillion little things that I have seen my parents do.

Parents are the heroes for almost everybody. No one else can show love the way they do and, no one can match the efforts they put in to ensure you are happy and healthy. For me, my parents are my heroes not because of what they have done for me or still do, but because of what they give to this world in their own little ways. To celebrate the birthdays of their three grandchildren, every year they visit a school for the physically challenged. They spend time there and distribute food and sweets to the children and staff members.

I visited this school with them today, and it prompted me to write this blog. From the moment I entered till the time I left, I could not stop feeling blessed. I felt a lump in my throat seeing the children there, yet I found myself smiling through it all because of the happy and positive atmosphere there. All of them have a life full of struggles and challenges, but all I could see was smiling and enthusiastic faces. It was heart-warming to see the kids sing the “Happy Birthday” song for my nephew cheerfully and relishing the food with equal zest. What also pleasantly surprised me was their discipline and conduct all through. The children showed me their vocation centre where they make disposable cups.

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One of the staff members told me that the school was started by the principal Mr.P.S.T Patnaik around 18 years back. The principal was born differently-abled and was from a middle class family background. He faced many problems in completing his primary education. Not wanting other physically challenged to go through similar struggles, he started the school, with a passion to do something for their welfare. He believed that illiteracy was and is the prime cause for them being downtrodden in society, and today he does immense work to keep improvising the infrastructure and quality of education. The principal is also a recipient of several awards and has been acknowledged for his efforts by former President A P J Kalam as well.

What a great example of determination and grit! Life gave him a wheelchair yet he braved it all to fly high. A huge reminder that life may not always be fair but it is up to us to make the most of what we have and the opportunities that knock at our door!

There are people in this world who are in a far worse situation. We should thus value what we have without complaining. But as humans we seldom follow this thought in our lives. Such experiences must serve as a reminder to us, that we are indeed fortunate that God has empowered us to make this world a better place. There are myriad ways of contributing to this world and am sure we all can do something in our fast-paced lives. It is necessary to move out of our comfort zone and go that extra mile to make a significant difference. We ought to stop thinking that we are doing something for ‘others’, because in reality it is for us. After all, we are the world!

Do good not because it will come back, sometimes it may not. Do good not because of the fear of god, that would mean atheists would not have any reason to do good. Do good not because you want to have a good image, image is an illusion which can break anytime. Do good because you have a conscience, and you should be able to face yourself everyday – this world gives us a lot in many ways and it’s a mutual way of organically increasing the good around. Let us make our acts of kindness a habit, a way of life!

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