It’s been a very long time since i posted my last blog which can be attributed to two reasons. One was that I didn’t find time to write useless everyday blogs as I used to when I started blogging and the other being I didn’t feel like writing such blogs. So here I am after so many days, really in the mood to write a blog and with something that would hopefully make you all think and analyze your lifestyle again.
Have you ever wondered that if we are really satisfied with our lives?? We do things that give us momentary pleasures; do they really give us that satisfaction which we crave for?? We buy a lot of useless stuff in the name of shopping much more than what we actually need; how long does that glitter last?? A few days maybe, then it loses its sheen. So how do we attain this "self-satisfaction" that would "really" satisfy us?? This is one question that I had been pondering over for a long time. Fortuitously, I did experience it.
My company "Fiserv" is in touch with an organization called "NAVKSHITIJ", which looks after mentally challenged people. Our company had organized a trekking trip in collaboration with this organization. So, I decided to go along with a bunch of my friends and we were supposed to help these people with their trekking. We went to their home first, where we met these people. It was great to meet them in their own backyard. These people were so excited in talking to us; in showing us their photos; we mingled with them well and became good friends. One among these people, a person called "Arpan" interested me a lot. People warned me that he was violent and to be careful with him, but the first impression I incurred about him was that he was a "paranoid", so I took note of their warning and we all set forth for our trekking trip.
Have you ever wondered that if we are really satisfied with our lives?? We do things that give us momentary pleasures; do they really give us that satisfaction which we crave for?? We buy a lot of useless stuff in the name of shopping much more than what we actually need; how long does that glitter last?? A few days maybe, then it loses its sheen. So how do we attain this "self-satisfaction" that would "really" satisfy us?? This is one question that I had been pondering over for a long time. Fortuitously, I did experience it.
My company "Fiserv" is in touch with an organization called "NAVKSHITIJ", which looks after mentally challenged people. Our company had organized a trekking trip in collaboration with this organization. So, I decided to go along with a bunch of my friends and we were supposed to help these people with their trekking. We went to their home first, where we met these people. It was great to meet them in their own backyard. These people were so excited in talking to us; in showing us their photos; we mingled with them well and became good friends. One among these people, a person called "Arpan" interested me a lot. People warned me that he was violent and to be careful with him, but the first impression I incurred about him was that he was a "paranoid", so I took note of their warning and we all set forth for our trekking trip.
We arrived at Sudhagarh, which is around 120 kms away from Pune. I had initially thought the trekking would be a simple one, as we had to help these people as well. But I was wrong; I found it difficult myself at the end. So, when we arrived at this place, something in me prompted to help "Arpan". So, I took his side and we set forth for our trekking. I realized that he was completely paranoid and felt very insecure about any person who is even a few meters away from him. He felt that every other person surrounding him will harm him including me. So, I had to make him comfortable and the only tool in my hand was motivation. Until that day, I never knew I could motivate a person to such an extent. I was so enthusiastic that I kept on motivating him the whole way.
It was very hot there and I was foolish enough to carry nothing with me-no water, no food. And I was managing Arpan and another person, 3 of us were almost dehydrated and Arpan used to fall asleep wherever we used to rest. But somehow I helped him climb to a certain extent after which all 3 were exhausted. We waited there for water, the sun’s heat was scorching; leaving us no other option than to lie down. So, after the water supplies came, I got refreshed and was ready to go but Arpan was still down and tired. So, I decided to climb down even though I desperately wanted to reach the top, I had to make up my mind. And after a lot of trouble, we found ways, got stuck in many places, landed on thorn bushes (they reminded me of my farewell where I had a similar experience); somehow we endured ourselves to reach the bottom.
I was dead tired but found that self-satisfaction I was looking for all throughout my life. I narrated this story not to talk about my adventures but to give you a feel of what I had experienced. These people are also like us, so it is not enough if we just help them financially; it is emotional help that they need the most. If you can find some time from your busy schedule; try spending it with such people it would benefit both of you. Financially any person can help, but you need a great deal of patience and perseverance to help these people emotionally. Please don’t do it as an obligation; take interest and do it as patiently as possible and I ensure that it will give you a great deal of "self-satisfaction", something that you would never forget in your life.
It was very hot there and I was foolish enough to carry nothing with me-no water, no food. And I was managing Arpan and another person, 3 of us were almost dehydrated and Arpan used to fall asleep wherever we used to rest. But somehow I helped him climb to a certain extent after which all 3 were exhausted. We waited there for water, the sun’s heat was scorching; leaving us no other option than to lie down. So, after the water supplies came, I got refreshed and was ready to go but Arpan was still down and tired. So, I decided to climb down even though I desperately wanted to reach the top, I had to make up my mind. And after a lot of trouble, we found ways, got stuck in many places, landed on thorn bushes (they reminded me of my farewell where I had a similar experience); somehow we endured ourselves to reach the bottom.
I was dead tired but found that self-satisfaction I was looking for all throughout my life. I narrated this story not to talk about my adventures but to give you a feel of what I had experienced. These people are also like us, so it is not enough if we just help them financially; it is emotional help that they need the most. If you can find some time from your busy schedule; try spending it with such people it would benefit both of you. Financially any person can help, but you need a great deal of patience and perseverance to help these people emotionally. Please don’t do it as an obligation; take interest and do it as patiently as possible and I ensure that it will give you a great deal of "self-satisfaction", something that you would never forget in your life.
4 comments:
@Manoj
In total agreement with what you said regarding spending time with them...of course there are ppl who think financial help would do a great deal, but its more of emotional... i can perfectly relate with the boy "arpan" u mentioned.. i think each one of us has that nature in us..at some point of time in our lives... that feeling of being unwanted which drives us crazy.. thats what we should give them.. at no point of ym shud they feel that they are differentially abled, they are equal to us in every sense.. good work..its not money that u shud spend on them.. its time.. neatly crafted..
It was an emotional post.I always promised a part of my salary to mentally challenged but,after reading your blog,it makes sense.Money alone isnt everything in this world.
P.S. This is subhashree
It really felt good to read this post.. hope I get the courage to do something as special as this some day.. it was well put..
great thing indeed what u had done.... In one way, everyone of us has this insecurity within ourselves... Its just that this person openly reveals it rather than hiding.. The person next to you is your enemy no matter who he is.. In one way or another u have to compete with him definitely... Its no wonder he's paranoid about the next person hurting him cuz he's 100% correct in assuming that... What he didn't (yet) realize is that hurting in "civilized" world isn't done in the so-called "uncivilized" ways.. It is done in ways more dangerous than directly hitting them... Being in the corporate world, you should have realized this by now :)
Anyways the reason why I said that its a great thing which you have done is different - its not everyone who would go out of their way to do such things - I for one definitely would not have. What I would say, however is to make it a regular habit and not as a one-time performance.
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