5 simple things that I like to do to contribute to a better society

Heal the world
Make it a better place
For you and for me, and the entire human race
There are people dying
If you care enough for the living
Make a better place for you and for me.

(From Michael Jackson's 'Heal the World')

How can I heal the world? How can I make it a better place for you and for me? How can I do my bit?

Generosity - Nobody likes a miser. I try and give  of my time, talents and money to the best of my ability. It is not easy but I am rewarded with good will which is so precious and which is good for health. I needn't donate huge sums of money. I needn't hoard. I give away stuff, I know I will never use. Basically, I make someone happy and I feel happy to have made someone happy. 

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Know my neighbour  - I do get to know my neighbours. Neighbours maybe the the first people you turn to in times of a crisis. Good neighbours reach out to each other when the going gets tough. 

Civility - Being civil with one another is important. Expressing opinions and disagreements in a civil manner, is something I  remind myself of repeatedly. Patience, respect and politeness goes a long way in sustaining relationships and building a better society.

Education   - Education matters. Yes, I am  academically educated  but I try and educate myself on social issues and current affairs and whatever else may interest me. Education is not confined to academics. I do my best to spread the word about the importance and need for education. 

Appreciation - It's important to appreciate the efforts of someone, express gratitude or compliment someone. Congratulations on a victory or milestone fosters good relationships. 

 

This post is part of the BlogChatterBlogHop link. 

What did you want to be when growing up?

As a  child, I didn't' really have any dreams and aspirations about what I wanted to be when I grew up. Childhood consisted mainly making full vasool of playtime and devoting some time to lessons and text books after being hollered at by the parents. I was hopeless at both Science and Mathematics. There was no way that I would grow up to be a doctor or engineer or have a career related to any of those subjects. My parents were both voracious readers and instilled in me a love for books. 

 A Basketful of Surprises by Enid Blyton gifted to me by dad, is a book I can clearly remember reading. There was no turning back as I turned into a voracious reader, reading various genres  from detective to romance, skipping horror and science fiction.   Somewhere along the way, in my late teens I began dreaming of becoming a journalist. Somehow I saw it as a very glamorous and exciting job. The long hours that I would have to put in, did not register. I wrote letters to editors,short articles and poems few of which have been published. I continued to write even after marriage and write to this day. 

  However I did not study journalism except for  a short writing course that I did post marriage. As fate would have it, I followed in my mother's footsteps and trained to be a teacher. Kids are my favourite people and teaching too gave me immense joy and satisfaction. However my teaching career spanned just six years. 

I continue to hone my writing skills.  

This post is part of the BlogchatterBloghop link.