Y-camp
I like to do reflections a few days after my events so i don't forget them.
From the 5th to the 8th June, i've been devoting myself to pro-bonoism, volunteering in a camp for the intellectually disabled. As much as I gave them, I felt that the roles of beneficiary-mentor are reversed. What i've learnt from them, is far more than they did from me.
My benefactor was this 38 year old salesman who ISN'T mentally disabled. He sells objects of art made by the disabled. What strikes me, besides his thin-ness, is his optimistic and openness towards life. He seemed to find something to be happy about in every seemingly ugly picture in life. While we are fiery and passionate, he was just so optimistic. And it lets me to confirm, that happiness is found within one's own outlook to life; one is only unfortunate if he sees himself to be. Though he was born normal, and had his nervous system wrecked due to fever, thus losing control of his feel and fingers, he never showed a gloomy face, always there to enlighten, and well, he was kinda like sidharta.
But however, taking care of him was hard, and i get my first glimpse to taking care of these people. A toilet business could easily take 20-30 minutes. Showering takes 40 minutes. And then i really respected his family members for taking so good care of him, and lets me introspect the basics, the importance and the meaning of charity.
What is it? Is it organizing the camp well and make sure everything goes smoothly? Or is it trully caring for each other and the beneficiaries with all your might and all your heart? Will we be able to carry this out out of the camp? this is what led to my deep self-reflection and introspection.
I hate to further elaborate on how fortunate I am, to even have 4 limbs, to even have an eccentric and complex mind, and furthermore, would aspire for great heights in dance. Sometimes I miss out the preciously simple things in life contrasting with my oblivious and ignorant conscience.
Who am I to say that I dream, for the efforts I put in to my aspirations isn't worth a mustard seed they worked for their lives?Should I be more altruistic? I pray hard.
Labels: charity, resolutions
