This is something I do when I go out to dinner that my good friend Asare taught me. At the end of the meal if there is any food left over, we ask her waiter/ess too pack it up and find a homeless person to give it to. The restaurant will only throw it away so this is a good thing. I would urge any of you that can find someone who can benefit from this idea to do the same.
The Brahma Kumaris do offer great workshops that are around subjects that many people need some help in.
Being a charity, they are heavily reliant on donations so if you attend an event, please give generously so that they can continue their good work and reach out to many others.
This Self Esteem workshop will help you:
Learn simple techniques to help create sustainable self-worth and enjoy more positive and healthy relationships, with ourselves and others.
Two part seminar from 2pm to 530pm.
If you know anyone who can benefit, please forward this post on. Unfortunately there are too many people who really suffer from a lack of self esteem and it affects their lives hugely. This is a great chance to start looking into it. Face it and try to deal with it in order to move on and be more confident and happier in yourself.
DUE TO LIMITED SPACES, ADVANCED BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL. BOOK EARLY TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT AT www.globalretreatcentre.org/retreats
I remember, amongst the sea of brown faces, seeing a Caucasian family at my Dad’s funeral. One of them came up to us and said “Are you Mr Bansal’s daughters?” to which we replied yes. This gentleman went on to explain how our Father had been visiting their Father for a while now who was in hospital terminally ill with Cancer – and we never knew about this. That was my Dad through and through…totally humble…totally giving…..totally selfless. This warmed all of our hearts even on that very sad day. This was just one example of the kind of man my Father was. I could name many others.
My Grandfather, my Mum’s Dad, was also a great man. He went to India every year or at least every few years. Before he went, he would ask all of the family if they wanted to give some money for charitable purposes in India. All of us gave what we could spare and being quite a large family, he managed to collected quite a bit everytime. I know it was more than hundreds of pounds. So my Grandpa would then go to India and visit the Orphanages. He always had a soft spot for children – typical grandparent! And there, he would buy them Indian sweets, shoes, clothes, books or whatever they needed with the money he had collected. It was real hand to mouth charity work. And I know it gave him an enormous piece of satisfaction. He always said he was very grateful to God as He had given my Grandpa everything so it was my Grandpa’s turn to give something back.
My Grandma on my Father’s side lived in Kenya, Africa for many years. She used to go around the hospitals and ask the Nurses which patients had not had any visitors in a while. Those who were pointed out were the ones my Grandma would go and sit with, talk to them and always left at the end by giving them some fruit.
I, in turn, have also and am doing my bit for charity. At the moment, I am the Secretary of a wonderful charity called Salgo Assist. We are a Christian Church in Berkshire, UK who support a small Christian village in Andhra Pradesh, India. We send funds to help run an orphanage, we have British sponsors who pay for the children’s board and education, we run a Widows and Children’s scheme, last year, we bought rice fields to help the locals become more self sufficient, we pay Teachers salaries and help with maintaining the cost and upkeep of 2 local schools and more. The funny thing is that I am not a Christian but my fellow charity members are lovely and didn’t see that as an objection. I have been with them for just over a year. I also sponsor 2 children – it’s something really nice to do for someone who you don’t know but you do know that you make a significant difference to their lives. Hopefully I will have the means to support them for their whole lives now. I take this commitment very seriously. They are barely 10 at the moment but I promised myself I will do whatever I can for them.
I feel very lucky with what I have right now. Yes I have had lots of bad things happen to me but I have had some good things happen too. And it was the good things that kept me going so I will give as much back as I can. Many times, it humbles me. It takes me away from many petty thoughts I have and reminds me of how lucky I have it. I can go to a supermarket and buy whatever I want to eat. I am fully conscious that others in the world do not have this privilege.
I am also very concious about hand to mouth charity work. I would not give to any charity unless I knew all of my money was getting to the cause. That’s just the way I am. I need to see what it is doing and if it is indeed benefitting.
You don’t have to donate money to charity only. There are other things you can do:
There is so much to do if you just take a moment and look around you.
I totally believe that everything I have ever done for charity has made a difference. It has kept my feet fully on the ground and humbled me. I am a better person for doing the charity work I have done. It really confirmed for me how lucky I am to have the life I do.
Time for a rant….
I feel uncomfortable with just how much crap people are into these days – celebs, reality tv shows etc. Especially young people as their insight and inspirations are based on feeble, low moralistic, empty people who just have money…no sense. I personally don’t give a shit what these people are doing, wearing, where they are hanging etc. Who gives a……!!!
Then we wonder why we have a huge number of insecure people with no values, low self esteem and a general ‘I don’t give a damn’ attitude.
There are very few famous people who I respect because they are different. I’ve listed just a few:
Sade – 
Not only do I love her music but also that she has her feet fully on the ground. Sade is an international star who has proved that you do not need to live the celeb life. She has her own privacy, no paparazzi follow her around and mark her every move, she doesn’t go to the parties that would compromise her integrity…its seems like she just isn’t interested. The only thing you can judge her on is her music because that’s all there is. The rest is none of anyones business. She is a real ARTIST.
Look at all of the others who have public breakdowns, filthy rich people who can’t cope with what THEY created.
I have a lot of respect for him. He said after Pretty Woman, he had all the money, women, fast cars and pretty much anything else he wanted. But he never felt contentment. There was something missing – so he set up the Gere Foundation to help HIV/Aids victims all over the world. Now he has loads of projects and the contentment he initially seeked.
Paul Newman
I remember watching some footage of him just after he died where the Reporter asked him why he does what he does for charity. His reaction was to look at the Reporter with a confused face and say ” Those of us who are more fortunate in this world should have a responsibility to the others who don’t have what we have.” (Sorry these are not the exact words but they are how I remember them – still those words stayed with me.)
This gentleman just through his Newmans Own product range raised over $250 million for charities since 1982. A beautiful man who didn’t wallow in his own vanity but chose to do great things for others.
These are all exemplary people who had it all but decided to be individual and make a difference. These people I have all of the time in the world for. The others – I couldn’t care less about them. It always amazes me how many people have so much money but do nothing for charity. Or those who do but only because its making them look good because all of the paps are around. AARRGGGHHHH – ok rant over. I’m off to meditate!
Auranics 