Share your experiences when you have reached out

[estranged_gnrs]

Hi PGites,
Was musing about starting this thread for some time.

I know charity or good deeds should not be shouted about but in our daily lives we see so many things but ignore.I assume this thread will make us introspect beyond our worldly desires and may encourage others .

One example i would like to quote is,2 weeks back it was my first visit to NASEOH.The children were given the task of writing a informal letter.We have this student called Puneet.I was watching him and found it so difficult to understand why he cannot express himself lucidly.He had to make so much effort in writing each and every word.
And here was I,a normal human being,trying to see life from his perspective,and it shook me.So many times we curse the divine power/ circumstances /fate when things go wrong in our lives.But have a look at these people ,nothing can inspire you more.They are not gifted the way we are,but their effort,their zeal ,their determination deserves nothing less than salutations deep from the heart.
After spending 2 hours with them,i really felt happy from inside.Again,there was one time,i helped a blind man cross the road.The sense of accomplishment was unique and fulfilling.
Its true that most of us cannot reach out at organisations like NASEOH etc on regular basis because of other commitments.But am sure there are times in our daily lives ,we get chances,sometimes we do our bit ,sometimes we ignore.

So people ,share your experiences,times when you have gone beyond or the times when you could not .Let us learn some lessons
Rohit

[prasunc]

Nice thread.I would love to hear from good ppl on this thread...maybe some of the goodness rubs on me too. In the meantime , I am voting a 5 rating for this thread. Ciao.

[thyisthyname]

On helping ppl out...... i once offered a woman a seat on the bus and all she did was retort back 'What is ur Problem' ... so frm that day on me have stopped offerin any more seats anywhere

on a more serious note.... i went witha coupla ppl to cry in mahalaxmi... taught the kids coupla times.......they told us to take an initiative on our own in our locality

my friend did that.... in her colony takshila in andheri - east.......to the kids of the domestic help . Not such a good response initially...... bit now she has got a batch of 15 -20 strong

she got the local takshila mag to publish an article on it and around 5 to 8 aunties turned up to teach the kids the next sunday...... what's more they were actually regular after that

me hopes that a similar thing happens with pg's community service initiatives after the CNBC interview

[estranged_gnrs]

Yeah Krishna,
agreed.actually in the metros,people have got so much hardened that if someone comes with help,the motive is considered fishy!!!
Am still wondering why such a lukewarm response from PG junta...so many responses on the CNBC thread,people applauding and cheering.But am sure on any given day,Allwin does not need that praise,he will rather prefer more of us reaching out and making a difference in other's lives.Why look beyond??? most of us will be having a maid at our home..ask her..if you can teach her children or something on these lines.
Rohit

[Ocean Born]

I found this in my mailbox. Seems appropriate:

Charles Schultz Philosophy
You don't actually have to take the quiz. Just read the email straight
through,
and you'll get the point. It is trying to make a nice point.
Here's the quiz:
1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.
2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.
3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America contest.
4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer prize.
5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor/ress.
6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.
How did you do? The facts are, none of us remember the headliners of
yesterday.
These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields.
But
the
applause dies. Awards tarnish. Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and
certificates are buried with their owners.
Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:
1. List a few teachers w! ho aided your journey through school.
2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.
3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.
4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.
5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.
6. Name half a dozen heroes whose stories have inspired you
Easier?
The lesson: The people who make a difference in your life are not the
ones
with
the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the
ones
that care, that love and that effect you in their own subtle way. "Don't
worry
about the world coming to an end today......It's already tomorrow
in Australia."

[kanu_libra]

this thread really touched me so im posting here. nice post thr by ocean born.

i luv to reach out to people everyday, every possible moment. may be my friends, servant/maid or even a person whom i dont know. it feels so good to make everyone smile & keep them going.

[pooza mishra]

Rohit this is a lovely thread. There are moments when things touch us deeply. With recurring dreams on something similiar and discussions with mom which seem like eternity to me, discussing something similiar here on this forum made me believe in "the alchemist " again ...Omens

Being very honest I have never been to an Orphanage. Never been to places where I could meet children or people who need our love or our attention. Perhaps because in my daily life I came across so many people who were not in any orphanage or geriatric home but still were alone, lonely.

The energy of Universal love ... this connects us to people. We all need love in our life and that is why we shouldnt hesitate in giving others our love and affection.

We used to have seminars on thursdays which used to end at around 4 : 45 in the evening and we were the last to leave the college. I was once waiting for my car when I saw a small little boy hardly 5 years old playing with his friends. I dont know why this kid actualy did hold my attention. Perhaps because he was the most innocent looking and yet the naughtiest. Torn shirt and a torn pant and a look that clearly said that he had not taken a bath for atleast 7 days now. And most probably his mother or his family wasnt even bothered where he was. This little boy would climb the highest tree around and jump from there. I was shocked. It was so dangerous. His friends also started following him. The second time he climbed the tree and was about to jump I actualy told him not to. I didnt say a word but I my face and my eyes clearly asked him not to. Then I thought why would he listen to me. And felt like laughing at myself. But he did listen to me. He didnt jump but climbed down the tree with a shy face and blazing eyes. And then he made sure none of his friends jump. He made sure they climb down the tree.

He smiled at me and I smiled back and he ran away. That saturday while coming back from practical classes he was there. He was smiling at me. And doing possibly everything to draw my attention. He wanted me to stop him from doing anything daring or risky. I offered him and his friends ice cream there. He again smiled at me and ran away. All his friends followed him. Whenever I would attend the last class in college and leave at around 4:45 he and his freinds would be there playing. And I would give them ice cream and they would leave so happily. Then when I started driving my car to college these kids would slip into the campus and almost guard my car. It was truely amazing. Then I wanted to do something for them. I talked to him and his friends and asked if they wanted to read. They wanted to. They were so excited about it. We have a Govt school nearby. The next day this kids mother was there in front of my college. I talked to her and got these kids into that school. Now they are studyng in that school. But till I passed out of my college they would be there on thursdays and saturdays when I had classes till 4:45.

I realy dont know why I did all this and when I had done it I thought it was the most natural thing to be done. My parents actualy taught an orphan and he is working now, married and happy. Maybe it was this thing that made me do what I did. Honestly speaking I have never thought much about social work consciously. But I feel happy to see that these kids are happy and getting educated

[j0]

Nice thread Rohit.

I just heard my sis tell me how my Dad was relating his experiences of being a Manager to her when she became a PL in TCS.
He told her that just be nice to people, they'll lay down their lives for you.
You might think this is a gross exaggeration but believe me I know this for a fact; he has that effect on people.
Well he's just too good with people and he's brought me upto be this typical open-the-door-for-the-lady specimen.

Well one time when we'd gone to Holland, I was just standing at the entrance of the hotel and this lady was in a hurry and struggling to push her trolley up the inclined pathway.
So I offered to help this old Scandinavian damsel in distress, and she summarily shooed me away.

Anyways that aside, I'm actually trying to think of something that I might have done that had a positive effect on someone else.

Well one that is still very fresh in my memory was a year or so ago at the Airport, there was this old Malayalee lady who was really struggling with a few bags she was carrying.
I saw her stumbling trying to keep it all together, as she walked down the ramp.
When I was relatively sure she wasn't with anyone who was sposed to aid her, I just went across and tapped her on the wrist and took her bags.
She hadn't a clue about what in the world had just happened, she tried to keep pace with me lest I runaway with all her life's belongings. This could've been a repeat of Amsterdam had she been quicker.
When we got to the conveyor belt inside the Airport I tried to tell her in my rusty Malayalam to hang on to the bags while I got the trolley. I doubt if anyone would've understood what I said.
When I came back I put all her stuff on the trolley, and walked her out.
She could barely speak, but you should've seen that look on her face.
She had one of those typical old lady tight closed-lip smiles; she held one of my hands and slowly reached over to touch my face but couldn't reach that far, so she placed her hand on my shoulder and patted it ever so slightly.
And you should've seen her eyes through those thick bifocals, they just swelled up with such gratitude, it was the kind of expression only your Grandmother would give you when you left her after a summer holiday.

It was quite something... it was quite amazing.

Something along similar lines more recently...

I had gained quite a reputation at a certain charity for not enjoying our lil family visits there since I was terrible with children; this was a few years ago.
There was a nun there who knew this, and though she was very nice to me...wasn't as warm as she was to the rest of my family. Well she was transferred of to another city and after a 4 year sojourn came back to Baroda recently.
She treated me the same, even though the rest of the people there had cozied upto me over the years she was absent.
So earlier this year I went over there, and gave her my number and told her that since the kid's had exams... she should call me if they ever need any help.
She was quite surprised and you could see it her eyes... she had finally started to melt.

It's really these lil things, when people see so clearly the genuineness in what you are trying to accomplish... without distrust or fear, that makes even the seemingly fruitless effort of kindness worthwhile.

[estranged_gnrs]

@Pooza....there are somethings in life which make you speechless,and reading your experience was one of them.

@J0...proud of you , moi boi.
These are the things which really make you feel happy from deep inside.

Infact,until few days ago,I was very much against giving money to beggars.But one day in NASEOH,I and PG started talking about it,and he gave me his viewpoint.He said, We waste loads of money in pubs,coffee shops etc,then why not give a 10 ruppee note to that lil kid who is begging in front of you? May be the money you gave him goes into wrong hands,but the smile you will see on his face will be worth more than that.Surely we can afford that.

And thanks people for reviving the thread.
I hope more people join in and motivate us.
Rohit.

[j0]

Pooza just saw your post.
Lil miss you sure do know how to surprise me with most things you do...sometimes totally nutty... but sometimes really wonderful to read