Happy Vesak Day

Before I go on, I would like to wish all my Buddhist friends a Happy Vesak Day! Most of you know how much my holidays or days off from work mean to me as I enjoy spending it with my kids. However, today, I did something different.

While Ed and the kids spent the day together, my parents and I headed over to Tong Sian Tng temple at Devonshire Road to do our little part for charity.

Together with the staff from DBS, we hosted mentally challenged children from six special schools. Goody bags sponsored by DBS were given to all children while we were given the task of sculpturing balloons for about 600 children. We started at about 10am and ended at 3pm. Together with my dad, we did a total of about 800 simple sculptures as some of this mentally challenged kids came with their siblings. Thankfully my mum was there…she was a big help distributing the balloons and making sure everything was in order.

Some people run the other way when asked to do charity work. Nobody wants to spend an afternoon, day or weekend away from their everyday routine. They’re either too busy, or just don’t want to dedicate time to something that isn't going to benefit them in some way. Just because you aren't getting paid for the work you’re doing, does not mean that there aren't any benefits.

Now you may be thinking, “Will she just shut the hell up. Only doing this charity event once and acting all high and mighty…” … So that you know, this isn't the first charity event I have done. I have done many in the past and some I have gotten my kids involved. I wish I could do more if time and money permitted. But whenever there is an opportunity like this, my family and I will always jump at it.

So what are the benefits of charity work?

From my point of view, the number one benefit would be the fact that you always get to meet fantastic people. I've never NOT made new friends and or have I never NOT felt great about giving back to the wider community with them. Volunteering connects you to others. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills.

The other benefit from volunteering is that it’ll give you a sense of purpose. You will genuinely feel like you’re doing something good, in whatever role you’re allocated or decide to take on.

Volunteering provides many benefits to both mental and physical health. In short, volunteering is good for your mind and body. It increases self-confidence and boost your self-esteem and life satisfaction. You are doing good for others and the community, which provides a natural sense of accomplishment. Your role as a volunteer can also give you a sense of pride and identity. And the better you feel about yourself, the more likely you are to have a positive view on your life and future goals.

Volunteering is a fun and easy way to explore your interests and passions. Not to mention that it brings fun and fulfilment in to your life. Doing volunteer work you find meaningful and interesting can be a relaxing, energizing escape from your day-to-day routine of work, school, or family commitments. Volunteering also provides you with renewed creativity, motivation, and vision that can carry over into your personal and professional life.

But most of all, I enjoy volunteering because I enjoy the HAPPINESS EFFECT. Helping others definitely kindles happiness in me.

There were a few times I've done charity performances with my kids. Volunteering as a family has many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you show them first hand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help others. Thus I am proud to say my kids are great kids who have big hearts! I think I have done right in raising them to be who they are today and hopefully to continue to grow in to that perfect adult.

Today was a great experience. Instead of volunteering with my husband and kids, I got to do it with my parents who have raised me to be the person I am today and in return I am able to raise my kids to be the wonderful children they are today.

It just feels good. I get a genuinely awesome feelings when I help someone who truly deserves it. I find this feeling hard to come across.

By the time I got home, I hugged both my kids tight and giving thanks to the creator for giving me two perfectly good and healthy kids. Yes, after seeing what the parents of these mentally challenge kids go through just within that few hours I was there, have made me stop to think what they go through 24-7, 365 days a year. I am blessed.