Is it really worth it?
I have been interning at an NGO for about a month now and I am very excited to be writing this post and sharing a couple of experiences that are going to stay with me for a long time. Just to give a background- the villages we go to are in a poor condition (poor is an understatement to be very honest) where electricity, running water, roads etc are more of a luxury than the necessity we feel they are!
If someone is to ask me what I have learnt throughout, I'd say I have learnt to think on my feet and adapt constantly and stay positive even in adverse situations. VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. Let me paint you a word picture: You get up at 4:15 AM, drive 23 KM to your pick up point, travel another 60 odd one way to get to a village that has no power and water is scarce. In addition, it's 45 degree celsius outside (typical Ahmedabad summer). It's scary, but like they say: Your true test is when you are faced with adversity and you come out on top...that's when you're a true winner! (PS: Nobody says that, it's just something I made up. #oops?)
Yes, we complain about the heat; the sight of a moving fan makes us feel the same way like a man who unknowingly stumbled upon an oasis in the desert and to top it all off, we are shattered by the time we get home (sometimes as late as 11:00 PM)...but in the end I think it's worth it.
This is what the 'real India' that people keep talking about is. It's unhygienic, it's illiterate and it is full of adversity; but, there is another side to the story. Among all of these hardships, they smile honestly. We 'fortunate' ones smile and laugh often out of compulsion, they smile and laugh out of compassion, joy and genuine happiness!
The thing I would like to implement in my own life would definitely be simplicity. These guys don't have much in life but are very satisfied and don't ask for too much. As long as they have enough to feed their families and are able to see their little ones smile and have fun, they are satisfied. The mothers are happy watching their kids enjoy the meal she has prepared on the chula. For her, that's her 'victory'.
The question we need to ask ourselves is a very simple one that has only 5 words: IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
Is it really worth fighting for promotions?
Is it really worth bitching about your peers just to 'get in the good books' of your boss?
Is it really worth missing out on family time just for that added incentive?
Is it worth putting work before your health (both mental and physical)?
Think about it?
I feel it's high time we do!
*Peace*
If someone is to ask me what I have learnt throughout, I'd say I have learnt to think on my feet and adapt constantly and stay positive even in adverse situations. VERY DIFFICULT CONDITIONS. Let me paint you a word picture: You get up at 4:15 AM, drive 23 KM to your pick up point, travel another 60 odd one way to get to a village that has no power and water is scarce. In addition, it's 45 degree celsius outside (typical Ahmedabad summer). It's scary, but like they say: Your true test is when you are faced with adversity and you come out on top...that's when you're a true winner! (PS: Nobody says that, it's just something I made up. #oops?)
Yes, we complain about the heat; the sight of a moving fan makes us feel the same way like a man who unknowingly stumbled upon an oasis in the desert and to top it all off, we are shattered by the time we get home (sometimes as late as 11:00 PM)...but in the end I think it's worth it.
This is what the 'real India' that people keep talking about is. It's unhygienic, it's illiterate and it is full of adversity; but, there is another side to the story. Among all of these hardships, they smile honestly. We 'fortunate' ones smile and laugh often out of compulsion, they smile and laugh out of compassion, joy and genuine happiness!
The thing I would like to implement in my own life would definitely be simplicity. These guys don't have much in life but are very satisfied and don't ask for too much. As long as they have enough to feed their families and are able to see their little ones smile and have fun, they are satisfied. The mothers are happy watching their kids enjoy the meal she has prepared on the chula. For her, that's her 'victory'.
The question we need to ask ourselves is a very simple one that has only 5 words: IS IT REALLY WORTH IT?
Is it really worth fighting for promotions?
Is it really worth bitching about your peers just to 'get in the good books' of your boss?
Is it really worth missing out on family time just for that added incentive?
Is it worth putting work before your health (both mental and physical)?
Think about it?
I feel it's high time we do!
*Peace*
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