For Others · 5:26am Aug 28th, 2017
When you hear the word charity what comes to your mind?
Giving money to non-profit institutions? Food and water to refugees? Some little coins to a beggar?
Although those are forms of charity, the concept goes way beyond that. In fact, I think the word charity may not be the perfect expression to describe a few things. I prefer the term work.
Work for others.
There's a quote that says: You may not find a job, but you'll always find work to do.
That's because although we like to associate working with making money (which is very good, by the way), there's much more to do, even when money is not available. But why? Why do certain this for free?
Well, I could give you a hundred reasons, but I'll only tell one: The universe is generous. If you believe in karma, that's a good place to start.
You don't need to join the united nations volunteers team in a mission to Uganda. Have you tried mowing your neighbor's lawn? Yeah, he might be grumpy and boring, but he'd surely be happy with that.
There's work to do everywhere in this planet. Hospitals, schools, libraries, retirement homes, animal shelters, and even in your neighborhood - you name it. These places are always looking for volunteers to do basic things such as reading for the kids, bringing some joy or company to seniors, helping to organize a room, or painting a fence. Believe me, there will be something to be made, and people will be thankful for that.
Do you think you're useless? Well, think again: Can you help a recovering kid to draw a flower, or paint a tree? Can you spend a single hour of your week with an elder in a retirement home, or a disabled person? Or even if direct contact with people is not your thing - can you dedicate this hour to picking up trash from the beach or the street? Maybe organizing books in the town's public library?
If you can do something as simple as that, you have no right to call yourself useless. Even if you're sick, or unable to leave home, if you have access to the internet, you can find infinite ways to help the world, from writing to a depressive friend, to calling your parents or family, or even recording tutorials, writing blogs about things that could interest people.
Do it.
Not for you,
But for others.
As I said, the universe is a generous machine, and although it may not repay you with money, it will surely bring you satisfaction and peace at least. Because if whatever you did, helped at least one living soul (or a non living one, who knows), you are already doing your part in this huge game that is life, which is not as competitive as we think, but much more cooperative. It may not be much, but it's what's within your capabilities. And sometimes, the meaningless for you, means the world for the other.
Be the change you want to be in this world. Start small, do your best.
Do to the others what you wish someone could have done to you.
You won't regret it!
My last blog now has a fantastic audio reading, if you enjoyed this one, I assure you'll love this!
Narrated by TheDizzyDan
Thank you Dizzy Dan and Pedro Hander.
Useless has been a word that's crossed my mind more times than I'd like to admit. As someone who lacks the mental capacity to drive or work at a paying job, that word had fixed itself as my defining trait and haunted me every day that I had nothing meaningful done and instead watched YouTube or played video games under the excuse that I "needed a break". Useless went so far into this that it gave the mindset that I was a thing waiting for life to pass by as fast as possible so I could stop burdening my family with my lack of usefulness.
And then this blog comes to remind me just how wrong I am. The word that correctly defines me is not useless, but limited. I may be limited on what I can do, but so is everyone else; and that is the beauty of humanity, that we can only do so much. The little things one person can do will be multiplied by more and more people listening to the generosity inside them until it's a gushing dam that floods this world and reaches the ones who've fallen for the trick that they are somehow "useless".
And the cycle will repeat.
(I feel much stronger about this, especially since I wrote this between 5-10 minutes, and in one sitting, something that comes very rarely to me. So thank you for posting this and giving me a much-needed reminder.)
4650615 I feel so glad to hear that, I honestly hope you stay strong, and if you ever need someone to talk about this, feel free to send me a message anytime you need.
Peace!
Agreed. That's why I like to volunteer at my church's summer program. Because sometimes your time can be greater then money.
4650615
Supposedly the structure of involvement, commitment, belief, and attachment are what keep us out of trouble or committing wanton acts of villainy. But, I disagree. I think people inherently know that do anything which causes themselves or others personal loss, physical or verbal assault is wrong regardless of which religion you prescribe to, unless that religion dictates otherwise to 'non believers' in which case it's the religion, its advocates, and methods of social control that are the real issue not the individuals themselves.
Very well said