Yet another new year on its way.
The happiness and excitement of entering into a new year somehow brings closure to the year just passed by. We tend to declare to ourselves to let bygones be bygones. Its a new slate altogether. A new year where the mistakes of last year is already forgotten. Yes we did take valuable lessons from them and now we are ready to commit some new and adventurous mistakes in coming year. But who cares about all these serious fundas at the moment of celebration. All we wanna do is groove to the dance numbers with friends, have romantic dinners with lovers or watch salman khan show on tele with family with order out food. No matter how the settings are, mostly we all are happy and exhilarated these times.
The facts mentioned above are actual but there is one more fact and that is about all those millions of people for whom the new year's night is yet another scary and painful night. I wonder how these people feel when they hear party goers shout happy new year at 1 AM on roads. Do they feel happy or blessed for being alive for another day? May be one of their children died of cold or hunger or epidemic but still other 3 are alive so surely they should and must rejoice.
I am talking about all those people who live on roads and if you happen to live in northern part of India then it is close to zero degree on 31st night and for all these people who are with their families, its just another agonizing night where each passing by second is making their blood freeze and they inching towards death. Each year we all hear about these people dying of heart failure due to extreme cold conditions and I am sure each one of us feels bad for them and I also know for fact that many people distribute blankets and food to many people and most of those people would sell their blankets for a bottle of rum and then we whine about our generosity being wasted on non deserving people.
But you know what, true philanthropy does not have to show in extreme ways. As per me and Oprah (I love to throw names :)) a person is either philanthropic or not. He can never develop this as an act of his. My dear friends, lets think of some new ways to help these children who die due to extreme weather conditions, scarcity of food and also those who die by scarcity of education. Ya that's pretty much called death of a child when he/she did not get to use his/ her potential in this life.
We all will be spending at least 5000 on New Years Celebration so lets just drink one less drink or eat simple pizza instead of cheese burst and buy some presents for these little ones. Give anything you feel like and you will see that they will be happy even if you give them somethings small like bread jam to eat or some warm clothes or some chocolates or some toys. They are kids too and surely deserve some play in life.
I would like to share a small incident which took place last week. I was coming back from Food World after purchasing the household things and on red light this sweet little girl came running asking for a rupee. Her family lives there on that red light and they look like nomads who beg for living. Her job is simple, go to each vehicle which stops at signal and ask 3-4 times for money and screen other rickshaws to see a evident giver and run to that vehicle then. She is used to few expressions like being ignored like she is not present and no one can even hear her or being shoed away when she tries to touch the person. But instead I asked her whats your name and to that she behaved just like how any other child would behave. She giggled and said aarti. She did not beg anymore from me and stood there as her act was over and she didn't know about any impromptu act. I gave her a chocolate which I had with me and just then my rickshaw started moving. I turned to see her reaction and she was showing that chocolate to her brother and pointing towards my rickshaw and when I waved at her, she and her brother both waved back joyously. It was so damn easy to bring smile to their faces. On that specific day I had been grumpy whole time due to some failure in my life but look at these kids, living on streets, eating minimal food, wearing slight warm clothes and still you give them one smile and they start smiling back at you.
Someone rightly said that smiles are infectious. So why shouldn't we do this. Don't they deserve a nice dinner on new years eve and a warm sleep. Its not much to do for someone and will surely not change their lives but haven't we heard that "something is better than nothing".
There are many stories and superstitions with the new years eve for example, my friends granny would always ask us to write the new year date as soon as the year starts and thus in hostel when every body was giving new year hug, this friend of mine was writing 01 Jan 2006. LOL. In the recent book which I read, Adultery, its written that as a part of new year celebration, the whole family stands on the sofa and puts feet together at exact moment as a mark of entering the new year. Some even have to lock lips during this moment so well there are all sorts of rituals. So why don't we make one more of such ritual for us which will stay with us till the day we die and will teach our coming generations. Choose your ritual, please lets do something for someone. :)
I will walk out of my house on 31st with food in my hand and I will be very happy if I will see you too there somewhere.
I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year in advance.
“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to
get it right.”
― Oprah Winfrey
get it right.”
― Oprah Winfrey
There is something special about the new year celebrations. Isn't it? Even if you are just a stay at home person on 31st night, you still can not avoid the festivities around you and if you happen to work in any of the MNC like I do then you are bound to hear party plans of people way before time. The parties and outings start right before Christmas and stays till the midnight of 31st December. There is something about this night and the moment when everyone shouts 10...9...8... ...3....2..1.. HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!
The happiness and excitement of entering into a new year somehow brings closure to the year just passed by. We tend to declare to ourselves to let bygones be bygones. Its a new slate altogether. A new year where the mistakes of last year is already forgotten. Yes we did take valuable lessons from them and now we are ready to commit some new and adventurous mistakes in coming year. But who cares about all these serious fundas at the moment of celebration. All we wanna do is groove to the dance numbers with friends, have romantic dinners with lovers or watch salman khan show on tele with family with order out food. No matter how the settings are, mostly we all are happy and exhilarated these times.
The facts mentioned above are actual but there is one more fact and that is about all those millions of people for whom the new year's night is yet another scary and painful night. I wonder how these people feel when they hear party goers shout happy new year at 1 AM on roads. Do they feel happy or blessed for being alive for another day? May be one of their children died of cold or hunger or epidemic but still other 3 are alive so surely they should and must rejoice.
I am talking about all those people who live on roads and if you happen to live in northern part of India then it is close to zero degree on 31st night and for all these people who are with their families, its just another agonizing night where each passing by second is making their blood freeze and they inching towards death. Each year we all hear about these people dying of heart failure due to extreme cold conditions and I am sure each one of us feels bad for them and I also know for fact that many people distribute blankets and food to many people and most of those people would sell their blankets for a bottle of rum and then we whine about our generosity being wasted on non deserving people.
But you know what, true philanthropy does not have to show in extreme ways. As per me and Oprah (I love to throw names :)) a person is either philanthropic or not. He can never develop this as an act of his. My dear friends, lets think of some new ways to help these children who die due to extreme weather conditions, scarcity of food and also those who die by scarcity of education. Ya that's pretty much called death of a child when he/she did not get to use his/ her potential in this life.
We all will be spending at least 5000 on New Years Celebration so lets just drink one less drink or eat simple pizza instead of cheese burst and buy some presents for these little ones. Give anything you feel like and you will see that they will be happy even if you give them somethings small like bread jam to eat or some warm clothes or some chocolates or some toys. They are kids too and surely deserve some play in life.
I would like to share a small incident which took place last week. I was coming back from Food World after purchasing the household things and on red light this sweet little girl came running asking for a rupee. Her family lives there on that red light and they look like nomads who beg for living. Her job is simple, go to each vehicle which stops at signal and ask 3-4 times for money and screen other rickshaws to see a evident giver and run to that vehicle then. She is used to few expressions like being ignored like she is not present and no one can even hear her or being shoed away when she tries to touch the person. But instead I asked her whats your name and to that she behaved just like how any other child would behave. She giggled and said aarti. She did not beg anymore from me and stood there as her act was over and she didn't know about any impromptu act. I gave her a chocolate which I had with me and just then my rickshaw started moving. I turned to see her reaction and she was showing that chocolate to her brother and pointing towards my rickshaw and when I waved at her, she and her brother both waved back joyously. It was so damn easy to bring smile to their faces. On that specific day I had been grumpy whole time due to some failure in my life but look at these kids, living on streets, eating minimal food, wearing slight warm clothes and still you give them one smile and they start smiling back at you.
Someone rightly said that smiles are infectious. So why shouldn't we do this. Don't they deserve a nice dinner on new years eve and a warm sleep. Its not much to do for someone and will surely not change their lives but haven't we heard that "something is better than nothing".
There are many stories and superstitions with the new years eve for example, my friends granny would always ask us to write the new year date as soon as the year starts and thus in hostel when every body was giving new year hug, this friend of mine was writing 01 Jan 2006. LOL. In the recent book which I read, Adultery, its written that as a part of new year celebration, the whole family stands on the sofa and puts feet together at exact moment as a mark of entering the new year. Some even have to lock lips during this moment so well there are all sorts of rituals. So why don't we make one more of such ritual for us which will stay with us till the day we die and will teach our coming generations. Choose your ritual, please lets do something for someone. :)
I will walk out of my house on 31st with food in my hand and I will be very happy if I will see you too there somewhere.
“You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you.”
― John Bunyan
I wish you and your family a very Happy New Year in advance.
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