https://mouthshut.com/blog/ibhilqlpt/That-Thing-They-Do
“Remember that the happiest people are not those getting more, but those giving more.”~H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
I met her at an office party in Delhi. Our husbands were collegues. She was a very lively lady with a pleasant personality. She had a 7 year old son studying in 2nd standard. During our conversation, she told me that now she gets ample of time, and wanted to do something creative and constructive. She applied in a few schools, but nothing materialized because she did not want her son to compromise. A few openings where timings and other conditions favoured her, the salary was peanuts.
One day, she called me and told me that she has joined a blind school. She is going to help the kids, with flexible hours and a selfless service. I was happy for her, as not only she found a job which would give her happiness but also an opportunity to contribute to the society. It was proud moment – someone has raised the bar. Someday, maybe I might join her as well, was my lingering thought.
She joined, initially she was very happy. We were in constant touch, as she went there twice or thrice a week, but then she extended it to six days a week. This caused a time crunch and she ended up juggling time for family and her kid after coming back from the blind school.
After a few months, we again met at a common friend’s party. I was expecting her stories and experiences but to my shock she told me that she had stopped going. When I asked her the reason, she told me that it was affecting her home. Since she had her flexibility, I could not understand how it could affect?
She told me, that after visiting those blind kids, she gradually developed such strong sympathy factor for them. It had a reverse impact on her son. Whenever her son was not able to do something, was careless or failed to accomplish a task, she was annoyed. She was annoyed because she compared him with them. She compared his wellbeing with those kids who were struggling to lead a normal life. She argued that he is perfect, god has bestowed him with perfect health then why is he not grateful? Why can’t he realize the perfect gift of health? Those kids, in spite of so many limitations are perfecting themselves day by day. They were actually putting in so much effort, then why can’t he? She started pushing him for no reason. Her mind was engrossed by those thoughts day and night. She could not stop thinking about those kids, and constantly felt pity for them. These thoughts barred all other interests and events of her life. Her contribution towards home and family went down. Finally, it started affecting her health. And that’s when her husband intervened and convinced her to leave the job for good.
We have NGOs, social workers, where people are actually contributing for the upliftment of the unprivileged. The social workers, strong headed people, who live through the miseries of life, which are not theirs, but yet they experience them and help the needy to come out of it. Monetary help and need of volunteers is they keep looking for. During the whole process, the emotional trauma they experience with the person, and yet are so positive is something worth applauds. Above all they keep their personal and social life separate. It is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea. That thing they do – a selfless service for unprivileged is worth applauds. Whether I am a strong headed person or not, I guess I have to put myself to test to know about it.
