Ep #105 Minutes of Happiness - The Art of Giving

The Happiness Project

Hello guys! How have you’ll been? How were the last two weeks? I guess this is the first time ever I entirely skipped releasing my podcast episode last week. Thanks for all the patience and support that you’ve been expressing all along. Off lately, I have been caught up with a lot of pressing things at hand and I am also venturing out and expanding on some ideas relating to my work. I will keep you’ll updated about all that is happening very soon. So what made me happy this week?! Umm – tons of moments. But I am going to share the one that’s given me immense joy. Many of you know that I have been working with a Cancer Trust where I practice Art-based therapy with kids who are suffering from Cancer from bone marrow to blood cancer. This is entirely on a pro-bono basis that I have been doing this. Initially, I was sceptical on how all of this would turn out to be but it’s been 8 sessions that I have done so far and well – I can’t begin to explain how incredibly nurturing this experience has been for me. From seeing the kids happy to spending time with them and just having fun. I may sound selfish right now but I absolutely love spending time with them – it really holds me together. It gives me a sense of satisfaction of doing something bigger than myself; of focusing on something that is not about me; something that is real; something that just grounds me and brings me back to myself. You know that feeling when your entire life is sinking – and then you meet these kids who are not sure of how much life they have got; imagine a kid who’s only seen Operation Theatres and Radiation rooms since the age of 5 – and I just don’t understand. Where do they get that courage from? To fight without realising that they are fighting. I remember everyone around me asked me a couple of times, whether am I sure? Am I sure of working with these kids. I understand their concern was majorly that it’s emotionally and mentally draining and I am way too sensitive. And without a single moment of hesitation – I said – for the first time I know what am I doing and why am I doing it. And yes, I am immensely sensitive but why can’t I use that as my strength and allow myself to step out of my comfort zone and use my sensitivity as an opportunity to connect with them at a deeper level. Why not?! I think the entire purpose of me doing what I am doing is getting to start becoming clear. Clear in my thoughts. Clear in my intention and absolutely clear at heart. I don’t know what else is above all this? So well, there is no bigger thing than giving. Giving solely with a heart of giving.

And just like Gautama Buddha says, ‘before giving, the mind of the giver is happy; while giving, the mind of the giver is made peaceful; and having given, the mind of the giver is uplifted.

I hope this week you simply try to give. Without expecting. Without holding yourself back and see how pure joy amplifies in your life.

I hope you’ll have an incredibly giving week. And I will see you’ll next week. Stay well, and just experience the joy of ‘life’ itself.