True Happiness is giving it away!

If you are reading this, you are fortunate enough to afford an internet connection.You are adequately literate to read and understand the contents of my article. Most importantly, you have the luxury of time to scroll through social media applications at any time, from any place and on any device.

Not everyone is entitled to such comforts of life. What might be a necessity for you, could be a luxury for someone. Expressing a heartfelt appreciation for everything you receive in life is a paramount. And the finest way to acknowledge that is by selflessly helping others without expecting anything in return

Here are 6 simple and meaningful ways to give back to your community:

1.Luxury kits

Toiletries are essentials for cleaning and taking care of our bodies. Something which is an absolute necessity is still far from reach for a large section of our society. You can gift a toiletry bag holding body hygiene and toiletry supplies such as a small toothpaste (Rs 10/-), a toothbrush (Rs 5/-), 4-5 shampoo (Rs 5/-), sachets , 4-5 oil sachets (Rs 5/-) , a small cream(Rs 10/-) and a handkerchief (Rs 10/-)to the underprivileged or lesser privileged sections in your locality. They could be your guards, rickshawaale bhaiyas, people on footpaths or those begging at traffic signals . The toiletry items can be purchased from any nearby general store and won’t cost you more than Rs 50/- in totality. Even if you donate 10 toiletry bags a month, your budget will not cross Rs 500/- . If you can fund more, add sanitary napkins or tampons to your luxury kits for women.

2.Food

World hunger is on the rise. About 690 million people go to bed on empty stomach. Each one of us can make a difference by donating food to those struggling with hunger in the form of ration or home cooked meals or even convenience food like samosas, break pakoras  or iddli vaddas accompanied with beverages like buttermilk, lemon water or fruity in hot summers or tea/coffee in chilly winters. Each of these items will cost you Rs. 10/- only. How effortlessly we order our favourite dishes from swiggy or zomato. without even giving a second thought. Why not share the same joy with our domestic help, washermen or car cleaners. Maybe order a pizza for them on festivals or on special occasions, and make them feel equal.

3. Clothes

Do the striking pictures of latest fashion attires on H&M and Zara make you want to get rid of your old clothes ? Then why not just do that! Donate your old clothes and the ones that don’t fit you anymore to a trustworthy NGO or distribute them amongst the deprived people in your locality .

In chilly winters, make sure to donate aleast one blanket to a homeless. A blanket purchased from a local shop would not cost you more than Rs 250/-. Give away socks (Rs 25/-) , gloves (Rs 40/-) , woollen caps (Rs 40/-) or shawls (Rs 150/-) to your “rickshaw waale bhaiyaas” , construction workers or those working outside in the cold good for you.

4. Money

With money comes confidence. Donating money to someone in need can reduce their stress & anxiety, give them a ray of hope and act as a reminder that humanity exists.

5. Time

Time is money. If you are tight on budget but you still want to give back, volunteer your time. Spend a day or a couple of hours at an Old age home. Ask your domestic help, milkmen, house guards, gardeners , washermen and others if they have a child whom you can teach.

6. A random act of kindness

Giving back doesn’t always have to involve money or time. A smile, a compliment, or a warm greet (‘Namaste’ /good morning /welcome) can give joy to others. If you are traveling in metro give your seat to someone who needs it more than you do. If you see an elderly carrying heavy luggage, carry it for them. Adopt a pet, encourage a friend or lend a listening ear to a depressed.

There are so many ways in which we can give back to the society. Just think of how beautiful it would be if each one of us could do something to add value to someone’s life. The world would be so different. Volunteering is a domino effect; today I help you, tomorrow you will help someone.

Let’s continue this chain of good deeds and make this world a better place to live.