The love of giving.

Volunteering is an activity intended to promote good or improve the quality of life on Earth. People also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be considered self-serving. Volunteerism is the act of selflessly giving your life to something you believe free of pay.
The world today is a big cluttered jigsaw of money, power, greed and some more, greed. We as human being have forgotten our duties towards our self and most importantly our soul. The soul is not impressed by things: superficial or materialistic. It only grows with love and giving. This is not being a dreamer or an idealist. There can be a beautiful sync and balance between the two.

My personal experiences have taught me one very crucial lesson: Life is a journey. Love the journey.
Sure, its important to know where or what you are moving towards, but simultaneously have a open heart, mind and spirit. Open to Change. There is no good and bad. One is void without the other. There is no right and wrong similarly. It’s all relative. Even a criminal in the eyes of 'society' has someone back home, praying for his long life. Everything is situational and really, it all comes down to perspective.

There are often times in life when things do not go as planned. We ponder and question and bitter and batter!
But truth be told, it's really not such a big deal. However grave the matter. It’s all a cosmic balance. There are lesson to be learnt and journeys to be taken and unknown paths to be walked upon. This keeps us alive and distinctively separates the merely existing.

For me, one of the most endearing times spent within this world and with myself is whenever I have volunteered. In whatever form. Whether it is giving my seat to a weary traveller in the crowded Local trains of Mumbai, or working with sex-workers and their children to move towards a richer and more fulfilled life.
There are uncountable people around who do the same and more or less in their very own special ways. This helps keep the world alive.

Today, at work I watched the very first Volunteer Awards in India, an initiation by Apeejay Surrendra Group. The categories in this award were many. Starting from Individual to youth to corporate to Ngos. The thought behind this event deeply moved me.

People who love giving selflessly very rarely expect anything in return. They do it just for the love and passion and warm feeling it generates in their hearts, when they know they have made a difference. It's almost like soul food. Having said that, it's unexpectedly overwhelming when suddenly you are acknowledged and encouraged further for the wonderful work being doing.

It’s such a boostful re-affirmation. Watching the event on tape today was extremely heartfelt and pure. The basic essence remained humble and focused on growth towards this world we live in as a whole. It is our primary duty to respect Mother Earth and everything that lives and grows on her.
Watching the video made me feel very proudly connected to the Apeejay Surrendera Group. It was focused and encouraging to know, that there are some people around who understand this synced balance!

"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on Earth." - Muhammad Ali