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Do not wait for a 'suitable time' to do your bit for the good. Find out what can be done around you, and begin doing it. Make the world better just by doing this little thing.
Do not wait for a ‘suitable time’ to do your bit for the good. Find out what can be done around you, and begin doing it. Make the world better just by doing this little thing.
I watched the sunshine play in Marie’s hair. Dirt smeared all over her face, she played after the showers, jumping in the puddles with a paper boat in hand.
I was sitting on the porch of my friend’s house sipping freshly brewed filter coffee. Nothing can beat the aroma of freshly brewed coffee that romances the smell of wet earth on a sunny afternoon after the rains. I was completely rejuvenated by the experience, but what gave me a goose bump evoking excitement was the conversation that I had with my friend.
As a child, I had always wanted to make a difference in the world. But I did not know how. I saw my father make the world a better place by ensuring that the patients who came to him for treatment left with a grateful smile. Maybe it was his influence or something else I do not know. But the urge to make the world a better place has always remained burning bright.
As things often are I always kept this longing to be satisfied some other day. When I complete my studies, when I am settled with money, when I have freer time etc. I am no saint and it feels easy to procrastinate, although something in my heart says otherwise.
That post shower afternoon as I sat on my friend’s porch having coffee and watching children in her garden play in the sunshine I enquired who they were. My friend told me that Marie and many other children from the nearby houses come over for tuition to her house. For free.
My friend’s mother who is a retired teacher, teaches these children from the comfort of her house for subjects that they have problems in. Once Marie started coming in, there were others who followed suit. There is a group of six children who come over every afternoon to study, and as per the report cards they have significantly improved. After every class they have a glass of milk and cookie and play in the garden and return home when their parents come to pick them up.
Curious, I asked what made her mother take up this odd responsibility? To which my friend replied –
‘These children do not have the privilege to the basic things like a cup of milk twice daily. They have the passion to study and make it big but do not have the right guidance to help them improve and make use of their education. My mother thought that she can fix both the problems by calling them home. One boy had made into college. Another had got a clerical government job. Both children of house helps.’
I cast a glance back at the children again. In each shrieking happy child I saw a possibility that when nourished can transform their lives. My friend’s mother saw the same possibility, and instead of turning her back towards it she decided to be the catalyst that would help bring that transformation.
My thoughts broke when the children were called in to the porch and was given a packet of biscuit each to dunk in their milk and have. This is something that every person has done and revelled as a child, but there are some children for whom this very simple thing is a privilege. I watched each child, as they tasted the melted biscuit. Some made faces when the soggy part fell off into the cup, while the careful ones laughed. Marie held a paper boat close to her chest. This is a prize possession because she had received this boat as promised by my friend’s mother if she topped the class. Looking at them I realised, you do not need much to change the world. A willing heart, a cup of milk and chocolate biscuits can do wonders.
As dusk fell and the children left the house, I could not help but imagine them like a bunch of fireflies going out blazing in the night sky that has been illuminated by a woman’s touch of self-less love.
Everyone can make a difference in the world. All they need is a compassionate heart that is willing to work selflessly work for a cause. Make your existence the reason why the world is beautiful.
Image source: By Biswarup Ganguly [GFDL or CC BY-SA 3.0 ], from Wikimedia Commons
A Social Media Content Writer by profession. A writer by heart. A genuine foodie. Simple by nature. Love to read, create paintings and cook. Have impossible dreams. At the moment, engaged in making those dreams read more...
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I wanted to scream with excitement that my daughter chose to write about her ambition and aspirations over everything else first. To me, this was one of those parenting 'win' moments.
My daughter turned eight years old in January, and among the various gifts she received from friends and family was an absolutely beautiful personal journal for self-growth. A few days ago, she was exploring the pages when she found a section for writing a letter to her future self. She found this intriguing and began jotting down her thoughts animatedly.
My curiosity piqued and she could sense it immediately. She assured me that she would show me the letter soon, and lo behold, she kept her word.
I glanced at her words, expecting to see a mention of her parents in the first sentence. But, to my utter delight, the first thing she had written about was her AMBITION. Yes, the caps here are intentional because I want to scream with excitement that my daughter chose to write about her ambition and aspirations over everything else first. To me, this was one of those parenting ‘win’ moments.
It's well known how diplomatic and professional Priyanka Chopra is. Why would she want to stir the hornet’s nest when everyone’s happy in their personal space?
Priyanka Chopra (PC) did something completely out of character. She’s usually known for being articulate and mostly diplomatic, unless she wants to give sassy comebacks to people who try to put her on the spot or ‘in her place’.
She’s someone who’s never fought the establishment because she understands you can’t win against it anyway. But you can work around it to get your way to the top. She’s a thorough professional and team player.
For someone like Priyanka Chopra who’s never played victim so far, to admit being the scapegoat of petty politics in the Hindi film industry was refreshing. It’s good to see this unfiltered, vulnerable side of her for a change. PC revealed one of her reasons for shifting to Hollywood on the podcast, Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard.
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