FURNISH. #169

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"We decided to give you this knitted cap, Tara made it specially for you." Kaka, Tara's grandma told me on my return back from my journey for the Christmas holidays in January.

I didn't know what to say, I was speechless. I wasn't expecting anything like this, Tara and her grandma barely got by with handouts from different people who pitied their condition. Kaka was a cleaner who services people's homes with her 6 year old granddaughter, Tara.

I always thought it was people that had in excess that used to give but Tara and her grandma effortlessly shattered that myth. They didn't put up the excuse within themselves that they had nothing to give, they made the effort to and they did. I don't mind saying, the gift was the highlighg of my day and I'm going to use it judiciously.

I'm not rich or even comfortable, but I get by and I don't have debts hanging over my head so, I guess I'm good. Every month, I dedicate a certain portion of my earnings not to any charity organization but to needy individuals I can directly connect to like Tara and her grandma. I don't know a thing about her parents, they just weren't in the picture.

At the end of every month after I calculate my monthly earnings, I give Tara and her grandma the most because I know how much they need it, and then, I hit the streets and connect with real people, give something to them and put smiles on their faces. I would have loved to capture those moments to cherish for life, but I don't want to be shoving cameras in their faces, it would defeat the purpose of giving.

Giving is inbuilt for me, I can't get by without doing it, I don't know why but a certain guilt grips me whenever I'm having a nice extra meal, and my thoughts drifts to people who can't afford it.

It's luck really, some people were just born with a bit of hard luck, and the few privileged ones among us shouldn't feel like we are better off. I've heard stories of people who used to be doing well, and then a tragedy strikes and everything goes up in flames. Every day should be spent as a reminder of how delicate life is, God forbid, but we could lose everything in a blink of an eye. I've lived with that reality for a bit so I know firsthand how it feels.

I give everything I can, financially and material wise. I give out clothes that don't fit anymore cause my weight fluctuates all the time, I don't keep undersized or oversized clothes for later, as long as it doesn't fit me in the moment, I'll give it out to someone it's going to fit and worry about buying another when I need it. My policy on giving is simple, "as long as I'm not using it at the moment, it's best to give to someone who can utilize it properly."

So, I've decided to be a little extra this year, I'm going to start my own charity organization. I've realized it's not something I can do alone. There are so many lives to touch, and even the barerest minimum would go a long way in their lives.

I'm going to do things a little differently though, shoving cameras in people's faces isn't so cool, but then, doing it and letting people express their gratitude after receiving tokens could prompt someone out there to be moved to do something. If everyone was like me, I'll probably drop everything in my account whenever I see an emotional video like that, lol. I would have studio sessions with them, and have their faces blurred out of course. I would ask for permissions and participation will be strictly voluntary and it's certainly not going to be a determinant of them receiving help.

I want to help and I don't want to do it from the sidelines, I want to take charge, collaborate with well intending individuals and run a non profit charity organization. Cmh foundation is launching soon by the way, you heard it here first, lol.

Giving shouldn't be for show, you should give because a chord is struck in your heart frequently to help needy people. Besides there's more blessing in giving and once you try it, you can never go back. Didn't the bible also say to "be your brother's keeper?"

The world would be a warm and better place if people looked out for each other and lend helping hands. Instead, majority of people are selfish, everyone just wants to mind their own business, make money and ignore the needy. Where's the empathy? Where's the heart? Where's the compassion? I've stopped asking those questions though, if the world is going to be a better place, it's going to start from me and mine.

Why bother about people that don't care? They don't matter in the grand scheme of things, I sincerely hope we can convert some people into givers, but if not, we move. For every stingy person, there is always one person somewhere willing to give.

The change we all desire begins with us.