A Selfless Family Tradition

As a South Asian family, we come from a culture that encompasses many different festivals. Some long, some short, some more religious and some with a greater fun quotient. How we celebrate them, although there are fundamental aspects that remain the same, vary from family to family. When Diwali comes around, some families light up their entire house every day, create beautiful rangolis daily and cook delicious foods daily as well. Others may not celebrate it with as much excitement. In my family, there is one activity during festivals and important dates that we do differently.

Upon asking my father and mother how they would ideally like to celebrate their 25th anniversary that is fast approaching, they both said they would like to go to an island, live like the locals and understand their lifestyle. They’d like to bring some gifts with them that would be helpful for the residents of the islands. Of course, the big celebrations will take place but this choice they made, a humbling choice to circulate the money in a form that helps to serve other lives without the arrogance and expectation of anything in return is something we do differently. (Just look at the happiness on their faces!)

However, it’s not just the festivals where we seize opportunities to give back. Just recently, we received a call from a family friend in India. A charity the friend is a member of is building a computer lab for a community of less fortunate people who are unable to go to obtain the education they too deserve. When he asked my father if there was a way my father could help, both my mother and father without the slightest bit of hesitation, agreed to help. At that moment, let me share with you, I was humbled more. I was reminded of all the opportunities and basic life requirements that I am grateful to have.

The purpose of this blog post is not to brag about my family. No. It’s rather a way to explain to you that if more people, more families begin to put aside their greediness a few times to give to the homeless, the less fortunate, you’ll be changing lives. Make these selfless acts a tradition in your household too, as they are in mine and many other families. The money you’d be using to buy that product from the expensive brand you like would be used towards helping someone just fulfill a basic life necessity. The sense of satisfaction and happiness you will feel every day knowing you’ve helped change lives, you’ve contributed to making a better world for everyone is unexplainable.

I believe that it's not just impressive to have money and social status. It's impressive how you treat other human beings. Your random acts of kindness are impressive. You see, the idea is simple: give back and help people who are less fortunate because you are given this immensely fortunate life so why be selfish when you can circulate money to create opportunities for everyone.