Mothers call for help on the telephone, trying to speak over the noise of their young children in the background. "We need food, can you help?" Calls for appointments with psychiatrists, prison visits, sometimes, just a person to talk with.
For a couple of hours on Thursday morning, I volunteer at the reception desk at a community centre. The morning starts off with my plans for the day, ideas for lunch and dinner, class, work, socialising. My focus slowly shifts with each new person that arrives at the community centre, with each plea for food vouchers and assistance to pay gas and electricity bills. The phone rings constantly, disrupting my thoughts of how life could be better for me. I wonder if it's possible to focus on yourself in the face of others facing much bigger issues in life?
A friend recently contacted me about an interaction we had over email six months ago. Back then, she had just lost her job, so I wrote to her, connecting her with my sister. My incredibly productive sister directs a HR and training firm, while running classes for slum kids and helping an organisation which has a social focus. They wrote to each other and my friend got involved in teaching the slum kids.
Months later, my friend wrote to me again with a confession. My random email reached her at a time of depression and utter helplessness. For days, she had stayed indoors, refusing to get on with life. Teaching in the program for the slum kids, she said, was one of the best things that happened to her. It helped her to get perspective back. The kids loved her teaching and my friend enjoyed her interactions with them. Now, she has a new job. She is loving life again.
Let's remind ourselves not to get too caught up in our days to forget that our lives are made up of thousands of others. If things are not working out for you in any area, get new perspective, think positive, small steps of change.
For a couple of hours on Thursday morning, I volunteer at the reception desk at a community centre. The morning starts off with my plans for the day, ideas for lunch and dinner, class, work, socialising. My focus slowly shifts with each new person that arrives at the community centre, with each plea for food vouchers and assistance to pay gas and electricity bills. The phone rings constantly, disrupting my thoughts of how life could be better for me. I wonder if it's possible to focus on yourself in the face of others facing much bigger issues in life?
A friend recently contacted me about an interaction we had over email six months ago. Back then, she had just lost her job, so I wrote to her, connecting her with my sister. My incredibly productive sister directs a HR and training firm, while running classes for slum kids and helping an organisation which has a social focus. They wrote to each other and my friend got involved in teaching the slum kids.
Months later, my friend wrote to me again with a confession. My random email reached her at a time of depression and utter helplessness. For days, she had stayed indoors, refusing to get on with life. Teaching in the program for the slum kids, she said, was one of the best things that happened to her. It helped her to get perspective back. The kids loved her teaching and my friend enjoyed her interactions with them. Now, she has a new job. She is loving life again.
Let's remind ourselves not to get too caught up in our days to forget that our lives are made up of thousands of others. If things are not working out for you in any area, get new perspective, think positive, small steps of change.