My sincere apologies to anyone reading this article who is actively involved in contributing to social upliftment....engaged in selfless social service.... Or conscientiously participating or pursuing the cause of helping underprivileged sections of the society .... Irrespective of caste, religion, nationality etc.
I salute your endeavours and would love to know more about your initiatives, actions and endeavours. We need to get many more active socially responsible citizens together.
The title is not meant to insult anyone - rather it is just an excuse to attract attention. Here is another reason to get 10 minutes of your precious undivided attention:
"She Was An Unwanted Child & Faced An Abusive Childhood. Today She Is The Mother Of 100s Of Orphans!"
INTERESTED ENOUGH TO SPARE 10 minutes? Pls read on......
The topic of the note today is to call for action.... To wake up from the crazy stupor that we call life... To rethink our duties to our society.
PART 1: The Challenge
Here is a challenge to each one of us who claims to be good, moral and ethical citizens of the country/globe. Each person who feels that the World and Life have been kind and it is time to repay back what we have received and thus help others who are not so fortunate.
Below is a list of reasons that we often hear or give to others and also to convince ourselves of our bounds and limitations to provide social service i.e. Our personal contribution to helping improve the lives of the poor, down-trodden and deprived:
- I pay all my taxes and it is the job of the government to provide for food, shelter, housing and security to all citizens
- No one else does anything so why should I?
- I do not know where to begin!
- I am helpless in making a change in the society as an individual
- BEST EXCUSE - I claim that it is not possible for a single individual to change anything because there is too much bureaucracy, corruption
- I am too busy in my own problems of life with no time left to spare for others
- I would like to donate but cannot find an NGO or an Institution that is genuine or trustworthy
- There is so much corruption that my money will never reach the intended recipient
- My immediate family and professional obligations take away all my time and energy
- I am just too busy running my own individual rat-races to care a damn about anyone else
- If I have to help anyone, it will be within my larger family, community, social circle, caste, religion, town, city or country. Why should I think of helping 5000 infants who die daily of malnutrition in Africa when there are enough problems in my own immediate surroundings or social circles
Pls think for a minute if these sound familiar or there are any more that can be added to this list. Feel free to write down a few that come to your mind...the silly excuses or procrastination normally used by people to avoid going out of the way to help someone
-------
PART 2: The Story
This touching real life story is of a helpless and uneducated single mother who was abandoned by her husband and maternal family at the age of 20 with a just born girl around 50 years ago. She had to resort to begging on a railway platform to survive.
Read the story of this heroic lady and try to find any of the above or any new reasons/excuses that are still applicable and can prevent you from giving something back to the society.
Who says MOTHER TERESA is no more? She continues to live and serve through such heroes and mothers who dedicate their lives to selfless service.
After reading the story, pls re-read my article again.
http://www.thebetterindia.com/12867/sindhutai-sapkal-mother-of-orphans-pune-inspiring-women/
-------
PART 3: The Questions and actions
- Are any of the above PETTY REASONS/EXCUSES still relevant as reasons that I can truthfully give to myself or others?
- what are my obligation, responsibility as a good citizen, a righteous individual and a moral human being?
- am I conducting all of the above to the best of my capability/ability?
- Am I leading by personal example to attract more like minded and in-active members of my immediate social circles and beyond?
- Do I commit to make this small change in perspective or attitude and start believing in this statement - "The Universe just reflects back what I am within and repays in kind all my actions (right or wrong)! My life gives me joy or challenges in direct proportion to my selflessness/selfishness"
-------
PART 4:
- Write down 3 actions that you personally commit to helping others
- Put a timeline and measure yourself against your commitment
- on completion go back and write down 3 further actions
-------
It is easy to shirk responsibility thinking that no one notices. However here are two simple reasons to avoid falling into that pitfall:
1) One can fool everyone else, but not oneself!
2) Making the world better will give a better future for our children....isn't that what I am trying very hard to do each day anyway?
God Bless
I salute your endeavours and would love to know more about your initiatives, actions and endeavours. We need to get many more active socially responsible citizens together.
The title is not meant to insult anyone - rather it is just an excuse to attract attention. Here is another reason to get 10 minutes of your precious undivided attention:
"She Was An Unwanted Child & Faced An Abusive Childhood. Today She Is The Mother Of 100s Of Orphans!"
INTERESTED ENOUGH TO SPARE 10 minutes? Pls read on......
The topic of the note today is to call for action.... To wake up from the crazy stupor that we call life... To rethink our duties to our society.
PART 1: The Challenge
Here is a challenge to each one of us who claims to be good, moral and ethical citizens of the country/globe. Each person who feels that the World and Life have been kind and it is time to repay back what we have received and thus help others who are not so fortunate.
Below is a list of reasons that we often hear or give to others and also to convince ourselves of our bounds and limitations to provide social service i.e. Our personal contribution to helping improve the lives of the poor, down-trodden and deprived:
- I pay all my taxes and it is the job of the government to provide for food, shelter, housing and security to all citizens
- No one else does anything so why should I?
- I do not know where to begin!
- I am helpless in making a change in the society as an individual
- BEST EXCUSE - I claim that it is not possible for a single individual to change anything because there is too much bureaucracy, corruption
- I am too busy in my own problems of life with no time left to spare for others
- I would like to donate but cannot find an NGO or an Institution that is genuine or trustworthy
- There is so much corruption that my money will never reach the intended recipient
- My immediate family and professional obligations take away all my time and energy
- I am just too busy running my own individual rat-races to care a damn about anyone else
- If I have to help anyone, it will be within my larger family, community, social circle, caste, religion, town, city or country. Why should I think of helping 5000 infants who die daily of malnutrition in Africa when there are enough problems in my own immediate surroundings or social circles
Pls think for a minute if these sound familiar or there are any more that can be added to this list. Feel free to write down a few that come to your mind...the silly excuses or procrastination normally used by people to avoid going out of the way to help someone
-------
PART 2: The Story
This touching real life story is of a helpless and uneducated single mother who was abandoned by her husband and maternal family at the age of 20 with a just born girl around 50 years ago. She had to resort to begging on a railway platform to survive.
Read the story of this heroic lady and try to find any of the above or any new reasons/excuses that are still applicable and can prevent you from giving something back to the society.
Who says MOTHER TERESA is no more? She continues to live and serve through such heroes and mothers who dedicate their lives to selfless service.
After reading the story, pls re-read my article again.
http://www.thebetterindia.com/12867/sindhutai-sapkal-mother-of-orphans-pune-inspiring-women/
-------
PART 3: The Questions and actions
- Are any of the above PETTY REASONS/EXCUSES still relevant as reasons that I can truthfully give to myself or others?
- what are my obligation, responsibility as a good citizen, a righteous individual and a moral human being?
- am I conducting all of the above to the best of my capability/ability?
- Am I leading by personal example to attract more like minded and in-active members of my immediate social circles and beyond?
- Do I commit to make this small change in perspective or attitude and start believing in this statement - "The Universe just reflects back what I am within and repays in kind all my actions (right or wrong)! My life gives me joy or challenges in direct proportion to my selflessness/selfishness"
-------
PART 4:
- Write down 3 actions that you personally commit to helping others
- Put a timeline and measure yourself against your commitment
- on completion go back and write down 3 further actions
-------
It is easy to shirk responsibility thinking that no one notices. However here are two simple reasons to avoid falling into that pitfall:
1) One can fool everyone else, but not oneself!
2) Making the world better will give a better future for our children....isn't that what I am trying very hard to do each day anyway?
God Bless
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