Sharing Is Caring

I eat simple food during weekdays for i will think of my parents whenever i have something delicious. Most of the time, I would pack my lunch. That reminds me of home and mom's cookings. That reminds me of that adik and pakcik looking so tired - wondering if they had their meal of the day. Yes, I could cry while eating thinking about them, strangers i met along the road or on the bus.

The last time i paid for meals at high-class bistro or cafe was August last year - that was when i dined with my mentor and his wife after their long journey down from Kota Bharu. The one in Starbuck last May was a kind gesture of someone. Most of the time, I don't support such establishment because i believe in what Benjamin Franklin said that "Poverty wants some things, luxury many things, avarice all things". I just want to enjoy the essential simple things in life. Well, i know that i am doing the right thing after reading Uncle Pete's "Time for a Hartal".

My dear friend, Joshua, posted a heartbreaking "Chicken Ala Carte". Please, you must watch the short movie and ask yourself "how can someone's laughter bring me close to tears".

The next time we want to eat, let's think thrice - do i need it? how much do i need it? will i enjoy it? Let's shall not waste for "Verily spendthrifts are brothers of the Evil Ones; and the Evil One is to his Lord (Himself) ungrateful" (Surah Al-Isra, Verse 27).

Since Ramadhan is coming, i sincerely hope that we could do things differently. Most companies would spend a day breakfasting with selected orphanages (most of the time, the very same orphanage, i once heard the kids wear even more branded clothes than normal kids on the street) at a big hotel.

"Sharing food with another human being is an intimate act that should not be indulged in lightly" - M.F.K. Fisher

Instead of buffet at the hotel, why not we put aside certain amount of money enough to finance them for a year. Believe me, these kids eat too simple, i wonder if they have all the nutrients required to develop physically and mentally. I always believe that when we take away their trouble worrying about food, i bet they are ready to take on this world and make a difference. It would be great if we could make them happy throughout the year, instead of just one fine day in Ramadhan.

"True charity is the desire to be useful to others without thought of recompense" - Emanuel Swedenborg

Charity and sharing does not confine to orphanages only (I wonder if we feted these orphanages for the bountiful pahala we thought we could get compared to helping others. Oh dear, that's..too shallow and extremely calculative).

There are many more people, whom we could lend our helping hands. Perhaps, we could donate expertise (one uncle shared his expertise on cucumber farming with one guy and now the latter manages to bring home stable income of 5-figure every month - imagine the multiplier effect).

How about time? It was reported here about "Lukewarm response to welfare work". "While diplomats and their wives and expatriates make frequent visits to welfare homes and make personal donations, not many Malaysians do likewise". OK BAKTI, move your butts and do us Malaysians proud.

These are a couple sites if you want to broaden your 'sharing is caring' horizon in near future - Sharing And Caring Hands and Sharing The Caring. Perhaps, you could do something on your next trip 'balik kampung'?

Happy Sharing All!

"False happiness renders men stern and proud, and that happiness is never communicated. True happiness renders them kind and sensible, and that happiness is always shared" - Charles de Montesquieu

p.s. Looking at all our Bandar Diraja and i wonder why there are many needy families there. I wonder how could one sleep soundly at night when your 'neighbours' aren't...