A couple of weeks back when I was looking for an old document, I came across some precious gems preserved over the years. These were letters and cards given to me by people, some close some not so close. As I was going through these, I read a letter written to me by a colleague of mine (who later became a good friend). In this letter dated over two decades back, my then colleague had expressed her gratitude to me for being the only person who had stood by her as a pillar of strength when she was going through turbulence at work. This strength could help her address the situation with more courage, confidence and positive mindset. All was well soon and she resumed normal duty at work.

Then there were cards from two different adoptive parents, whose children I had worked (cared) for when they were in care at the NGO I was volunteering for. The card said, “Volunteer, it makes a difference” and the letter ended with “Thank you for loving our child when we were away from him”. Those words touched my heart and took me back in time to my volunteering days at an Adoption centre. I had started volunteering with an intention of sharing love, but received so much more in return. I would give a hug or a kiss or a smile to a child and receive back tight hugs and smiles in multiples. My days were filled with joy and energy overflowing from all the little ones around me.

As I went down the memory lane I was then reminded of the time I used to volunteer at an NGO for Cancer patients . Once, we had organized viewing of the movie, “Chak De India” in a cinema hall for patients and their caregivers. My mother had offered to sponsor tickets for 50 people and the NGO had distributed food packets to them. The excitement and smiles on everyone’s face warmed our hearts. A week after the film viewing, one of the patients’ family members visited the NGO to share some news. He had come to inform that his father had passed away a day after we had gone to see the movie. His father had shared that he had wanted to see this movie for some time and was happy that he had got this opportunity. For a person, who had been in a lot of pain and was sad for many months, he passed away cheerful and peaceful. The son wanted to thank us for organizing this event that brought a smile on his father’s face on his last day. All of us were touched and had tears in our eyes.

There is one more such incident that I can’t keep myself from sharing. I had gone to attend a house warming pooja. As some of us, family members were standing in the compound of the apartment complex, a young boy approached me. He said, “Prerna tai” and bowed down to seek my blessings. I blessed him immediately but was not able to recognize this young, decently dressed smart boy. He reminded me, “I am Bhima, from Willows site”, which helped me immediately recognize him. I used to meet and talk to him quite often when I was working with construction workers and their families. He was a school going boy at the site labour camp. Bhima was a quiet, obedient and shy boy, interested in studies. I and my colleagues had encouraged him to study and had facilitated his college education through our sponsorship program. He had pursued studies and secured a diploma in Civil Engineering and was now working for the same Building construction company that had sponsored his education. I could feel my chest swell with pride for him and gratitude towards God, for choosing me to be a part of this young boy’s journey.

There are so many random acts that would have brought me a sense of satisfaction, fulfillment, joy in life. Be it firing crackers during Diwali with children at the Adoption centre or talking to residents at a Senior citizens’ home, or sponsoring meals or donating money to various NGOs. I have always felt enriched with blessings, love and smiles of the inmates. I can say in full honesty, and with confidence, that there is no other joy in comparison to the Joy of Sharing. It could be sharing of wealth, time, love or attention, whatever one is able to afford and feel comfortable sharing. I feel, everyone must try offering random acts of kindness at least once in a while, if not regularly. That will make life more meaningful and worthwhile. It is a way of giving back to society what we have received from it. Kindness and compassion can be expressed in different languages.  It doesn’t always have to be in the form of volunteering or donating to an NGO. Sometimes, it can be spending some time with a neighbour who lives alone or with a friend who needs some non-judgemental  listening.

With the festive season approaching, I thought it is a perfect time for me to appeal to my readers, to think of people beyond your families and friends. As you gear up to bring cheer and happiness to your homes and families, please do think of extending cheer to the less fortunate people of society too. Do think of buying an outfit for a child at an orphanage or sweets for children at traffic signals or spending an evening with lonely senior citizens at a home for the aged.

Season’s Greetings to you and your dear ones!