Sunday, 30 August 2015

Day 16, 30th Aug 2015

"Every time you do a good deed you shine the light a little farther into the dark. And the thing is, when you're gone that light is going to keep shining on, pushing the shadows back"




Today is my nephew's Birthday and special occasions call for special good deeds. Happy Birthday my lovely Reyansh! God bless you loads.

One thing that children love is chocolates and I got big packets of chocolates from the general store and distributed to every kid on the signal. Such sweet smiles. 

I am sure they enjoyed the chocolates as much as I enjoyed giving to them!

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.






Saturday, 29 August 2015

Day 15, 29th Aug 2015

“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.” 


Festivities Galore and I truly love it! Today is Rakshabandhan and I everywhere I look around I saw men of every age with Rakhis tied around their wrists. Women adorning lovely clothes for the love of their brother. Such positivity!

Today was mass good deed day. I bought 2-3 packets of Milk, Bread packets, more children clothes from the attic and wherever I went I distributed along the way. I gave some to everyone so each would get it.

Enjoyed my day with my loved ones too and hope you did the same.

Yours Truly,

Work in progress selfless giver.

Day 14, 28th Aug 2014

"The nicest feeling in the world is to a good deed anonymously - and have somebody find out"



Happy Onam Everyone!

I am married into the Malayali culture and every year my mother in law makes some amazing traditional Onam recipes. So I got to relish the Onam Sadhya today (feast) My son specially enjoyed the Payyasam (Kheer/ sweet rice pudding). On the way back from my in laws place I repeated my good deed of giving milk on the signals. I bought 2 packets and gave it on 2 different traffic lights to the poor. 

Hope you enjoyed your day too!

Yours Truly,
Work in Progress Selfless Giver



Friday, 28 August 2015

Day 13, 27th Aug 2015

"If you do a good deed for other people you end up healing yourself too, because a dose of love is the best spiritual cure"


I met Omkar today, another tea boy going office to office serving tea and livening up people's daily mundane routine with his tea. He goes to school and I got goodies for him today. He spoke well and said thank you. Very sweet boy.

My heart goes out to these little boys who could be playing cricket and enjoying their days but they choose to earn livelihood for their family at such young age. God bless them.

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless giver.


Thursday, 27 August 2015

Day 12, 26th Aug 2015

"It takes many Good deeds to build a good reputation and only a bad one to lose it"



I drop my son to school everyday at about 8.30 am. On the way I see an old man outside the building sweeping the roads, raking the leaves. As you know its rainy season with a bit of chill in the air. I have seen him wear thin cotton sleeveless shirt and a dhoti. I see him everyday. He is employed by the PMC and I am sort of happy that he is earning his livelihood even at this age but on the other hand I feel sad that he could be enjoying his old age in peace but maybe cannot afford to do so?

Anyways, today I took some of Ajay's (husband) thick shirts that he no longer wears and gave it to him today. He was so happy! His toothless smile made my day.

I love that such simple tasks that cost absolutely no money can bring happiness to people's faces!!!

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.

Day 11, 25th Aug 2015

"Do good. And good will come to you."



haven't been regular in my postings but trust me I have been regular on my deeds.

Lots of ups and downs in Life, but isn't that Life all about? The key is to move ahead in spite of all the darkness around you. 

Take a look at the Mountain Man, what an extraordinary feat! I am yet to catch this movie but I am told amazing things about it.

Today I gave away some of my son's clothes to the homeless. I saw this lady carrying a child in her arms
and I had saved up all of Rudraneel's clothes for future kids in the family etc but like I always say, we can afford clothes but they cant hence I gave some to her. 

Have a good day!

Your Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.


Tuesday, 25 August 2015

Day 10, 24th Aug 2015

"Think of LIFE as a luggage, fill it with good deeds; as you'll need it for the long journey ahead"


Quite a fun good deed I did today, recently my office completed 7 years and we had decorated the office with lots and lots of balloons. We were taking down the decorations and I decided to put them to good use! In the same building as my office is a Pediatrician's office. I took all the balloons and kept those at the reception. I could see the glint in those kiddie eyes.

I am sure they are truly going to enjoy those balloons!

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.

Day 9, 23rd Aug 2015

"Don't ever say you are BORED, because there are so much good deeds you can be doing"


I have been unwell and hence delay in writing these posts, but I am not stopping my good deeds a bit. That brightens up my day.

Weekends is mostly party mode, I have my sister coming in and mostly we order food or dine outside. Most of the times food is leftover and this Sunday I just gave it away to a homeless person.

I urge you that if you dine out or call for food, please give away leftovers generously. we can afford it but the homeless cant!

Be giving.

Yours Truly,
Work in Progress Selfless Giver.

Saturday, 22 August 2015

Day 8, 22nd Aug 2015

"Noble Deeds that are concealed are most esteemed"


Remember I told you guys about Sadiq the tea boy and the lovely boy who has polio (I must get his name and stop the polio reference, sorry) well on Wednesday I inquired where they went to school and did some investigation. I came to know that their school is in requirement of 50 notebooks for 50 kids. So for the couple of days I inquired with wholesalers and today I got the 50 books delivered to the school. The school is close by in Kondhwa by the name of Shreemantha Dagdusheth Halwai Sarwajanik Ganapati Trust. They also have an old age home as well. Read about it here http://www.dagadushethganapati.com/trustees/socialwork.htm

Whilst I was busy inquiring about the books, I was unaware but 2 of my office colleagues were contributing to buy 50 pens to go along with these notebooks, such a noteworthy thing to do. I hadn't even asked them for it. I came to know just today and I felt so proud. 

"Many a little, makes a mickle"

Have a good weekend guys!







Day 7, 21st Aug 2015

"Remember, a good deed a day makes your heart healthy and Bubbly all day!"




Not a good start to the weekend, sick with cold and cough.

After a dull day of work I was going back home and wanted to buy some medicines to treat my cold. I stopped at a medical store to buy vicks action 500, I was waiting for my pills when I saw a beggar behind me. I immediately bought another strip of vicks action 500 for him as well and handed it to him. He was an old man and I informed him to have this medicine in case he had cold/ cough. I also had left my lunch untouched as I hadn't felt like eating much in the afternoon due to my cold and emptied the box contents in a plastic bag and gave it to him.

I repeated myself about the medicines couple of times more so that he understood and went away.

Recently I read an article in the paper about a man named "Medicine Baba" in Delhi. He goes door to door to affluent houses and collects medicines which are unused and lying around in houses. He then distributes it to the poor and needy. He has been doing this for quite sometime and today I partially followed in his foot steps. Very noble idea. Read about him here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omkar_Nath_Sharma_%22Medicine_Baba%22

Enjoy your weekend!

Yours Truly,
Work in Progress Selfless Giver.

Thursday, 20 August 2015

Day 6, 20th Aug 2015

"A Good Deed brightens a Dark World"




On my way to work I saw a man on the bike talking on his mobile phone and riding with the other hand. He was riding really fast and the bike was wobbling a bit since he was riding with one hand! Anyways I wanted to go right next to him and ask him to not ride like that as he would fall and do harm to himself as well as others. I did drive close to him but suddenly I got nervous, what if he would yell back at me or ask me to mind my own business?  Also in order to reach to him I was in turn riding fast and I then I gave up... so that part of good deed didn't quite go very well. If you are reading this, please don't ride/ drive while talking on the phone it really takes away your concentration from the road and you might end up injuring someone else for no fault of theirs!

Since my good deed didn't go as planned, I entered work and I was going about the usual activities of my job when our regular tea vendor entered and started serving tea. A young boy of about 8 years Sadiq has been serving tea in the morning religiously for about 3 years. I suddenly looked at him in a different light, I asked him if he went to school (yes) in fact the same school where the young boy with polio went. Hence today I bought goodies for him. I truly am enjoying such little daily tasks.

Have a good day everyone!

Your Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.




Wednesday, 19 August 2015

Day 5, 19th Aug 2015

"Good Deeds must be done with Intention, not for Attention"


Why are people so angry on the roads all the time?

Some attribute it to stress, some simply believe as low tolerance level. I myself was a victim of road rage along with my husband and let me tell you it escalated to scary levels in matter of seconds. I was pretty shaken up from that incident and I always remind my husband to keep cool and not get abusive or violent.

The reason I started on this note is because my good deed task for today was related to feeding but on my way to work I was stuck in a jam for literally few mins and in those few minutes tempers started soaring. Whenever anyone got a pass they would honk feverishly and get a bit closer to their destination. I know it can get pretty frustrating for people who want to get to meetings and drop kids to school on time, I understand but the anger is not justified, anyways who I am to judge?

Today I just smiled at anyone who gave me a pass and gave them a thumbs up sign, said thank you to car driver and one of them acknowledged it back.

If you are reading this please don't give in to road rage and take deep breaths and calm down. Let the other driver merge into your lane, its no big deal!

Until later,

Yours truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.

Tuesday, 18 August 2015

Day 4, 18th Aug 2015

"Your good deeds might seem invisible now but they leave a trail that is imprinted on the hearts of others"


Do you guys watch Grey's Anatomy? I absolutely love that show. The daily lives and episodes that take place in a hospital if its real or fictional I am not sure but I feel doctors would be the most blessed on this earth. The good doctors must be spreading so much of good through their patients and their healing. I must do something specifically for doctors sometime in this project!

Speaking of patients and diseases, in my office building the corner where the watchman sits I have always noticed this very jovial young boy of 5-6 years who has polio. He is a son of a helper who works in the building. He has never made a fuss of his disability. He wears his uniform and is always sitting by the watchman around 9.30 am and then heads off to school at about 10 am. I have always seen him smiling. Always. He makes jokes and laughs and seems like a nice kid.

His ability is stronger than his disability and I salute to him for that.

Today my good deed was to buy lot of goodies for him. I just got piles of biscuits and chocolates for him and I was rewarded by a thank you and a lovely smile.

What more can I ask for, isn't it?

Have a wonderful day ahead...

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.

Monday, 17 August 2015

Day 3, 17th Aug 2015


"Let your good deed be like rain; Drop a little everywhere"



Argghhhh,

Monday Blues + Sick , Cranky Child = "Not looking forward to" Day

But anyhooo.....started the day by a good deed on the way to work so feeling much better.

On my way to work there are these old citizens always sitting on a footpath and always I see people giving away food to them so i decided to do the same today. Had leftover rice from last night which I was going to make into masala rice but I decided to give it away. I can always make it again! Added some yummy chole curry into the rice as well so it just wont be plain rice.


Have a good week ahead y'all!

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.


Sunday, 16 August 2015

Day 2, 16th Aug 2015

"Do your little bit of good where you are; its those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world"

Spent a lazy Sunday whiling away time here and there and playing silly games with my sonny!

Went back to the same signal like yesterday, brought a big pack of fresh bread on the way and gave it to the same lady. A little smile and heart soaring again!

Oh, also on my way to the signal I helped a lost young lady on the bike help find her way to Camp! Double whoopie...

What good deed did you do today?

Yours Truly,
Work in progress Selfless Giver.

Saturday, 15 August 2015

Day 1, 15th Aug 2015

"You have never really lived until you have done something for someone who can never repay you"

For those you live in Pune might know the area what I am talking about, I exactly don't know the name but I can give you a description. There is a signal when you come from Command Hospital towards Bishops school and here I have noticed young girls carrying small babies in their arms begging for money. They sometimes sell flowers and knickknacks to earn a living. When I see those babies in their arms my heart goes out to them. Mostly asleep or dull the sight is quite pitiful. Most of the times I pray inwardly hoping that the signal turns green by the time I reach so I don't have to face them. Here I am in my air conditioned car with my toddler on my lap chewing a biscuit or sipping a juice when these women come knocking doors and pointing at food.

So today when I decided to embark on this journey of selfless giving this is the place I chose to start with. Our local milkman brings packets of milk everyday at our doorstep, today I kept one aside and took it with me in the evening along with some chapatis our helper had made in the morning.

As always we found these kids and young mothers begging for alms on the road. We approached the signal and gave a young mother the milk and the chapatis. She had a baby of 6 months in her arms. She looked at us and with a slight smile, took the goods crossed the road and went to the other end. By then the light turned green and we went ahead to take a U turn to get back home. Upon driving by the same spot we noticed the young mother feeding the chapatis to the child and that was totally worth it.

If you have helped a stranger drop me a line and ill follow it too!

Yours Truly,
Work in progress The Selfless Giver.


Welcome to the Selfless Giving Project!

Good Morning All and Happy Independence day to everyone. Welcome to my blog..

I am nervous as hell writing this piece as this is the first time I am writing a blog or for that matter, thoughts on a piece of paper. Merely thinking that my friends, family, acquaintances are going to read this blog is making my hands shake so much that I have to retype every single word and then delete it again due to spelling errors. Time to settle the nerves. (deep breathing, calming down. look at hands, stop the shaking, restart all over)

Allow me to introduce myself, I am Shweta Sharma, a decent girl at heart, a wife of a lovely husband, a mother of an amazing 2.6 year old boy, a businesswoman of a successful 7 year old venture, a good daughter and a lovely sister. Exactly in that order. I would say that I am a selfish person, I like to think about myself first and then about others. That literally means myself and not even my husband or my child. I can at this moment feel myself being judged but I know myself better than others so that's quite alright! 

Coming back to this blog and why did I suddenly feel the need to get on to this cluttered world of blogging and join this race? 
Well to begin with it wasn't sudden. I have been thinking about this pet project for quite sometime and have given considerable thought on whether I want to be on this social platform to do what I want to do or I should do this anonymously and go about my business, however the pros weighed more than the cons and here I am...

So what exactly is my pet project? Let me explain in brief.

The Selfless Giving Project

“The true measure of a man is how he treats someone who can do him absolutely no good.” ~Samuel Johnson

I truly believe we are all good human beings at heart and love to help people in need. Which people you may ask? Family and friends, co-workers, neighbors, our helpers who come at home, the night watchman and many more. But how about helping people who are absolute strangers? Yes, sometimes while in a car on the signal you may give the beggar a spare change or donate at a temple but what about literally helping strangers EVERY SINGLE day for the rest one year and expect NOTHING in return? 
This is what my project is all about. 
For 1 whole year starting today I pledge to help strangers anywhere with one good deed a day. I have a few rules for myself though. 

  1. I will not help with money.
  2. I will help in any manner.
  3. I will help only a stranger.  
  4. I will not judge.



This is as simple as that!  

I will not help with money.


Money can fall into wrong hands and I don't know if unintentionally my good deed can turn into a bad deed and I am quite apprehensive about giving money. Instead of money there are various ways of giving and I am going to be exploring this thoroughly in this year.


I will help in any manner.


Give way to an elderly before you, give a helping hand to a blind person, give away your thank you's to the PMC garbage collector, give way to the car behind you, give away your sorry even if its not your mistake, avoid road rage and give your smile to that arrogant fast reckless driver...just be selfless and give in any way you can. Not everyday has to be a life altering act of kindness, a small random act of kindness shown to someone who wasn't expecting it can do good a long way. 

I will help only a stranger.   


Like I said its much easy to help someone who you know but much more tough to help a stranger and expect absolutely nothing out of it. I am going to try this feat.

I will not judge.

I will see no caste, no creed, no gender, no religion. I will give selflessly.

So now you know what I am going to be doing and let me tell you that I am not the first one to do something like this. It has been done and there are many people doing much more in forms of various charities and maybe I am not aware of it. Just the other day I read in The Logical Indian blog that some women were teaching kids of vegetable vendors on a roadside footpath, isn't that so noble! Thus this isn't a unique project, this is something I have been wanting to do and this is just the beginning. 

Also I am not a writer with an amazing vocabulary so don't expect to read words where you shall have to rush to get the meaning in the dictionary. I write as I would be writing in my diary and isn't that the aim of blogging? 

You may ask why am I showcasing my acts of charity to everyone?

1. This will keep me dedicated and committed to this project.
This point is utmost important to me. I do have a sort of busy schedule and I MUST find time to do one act everyday and write it down in my blog so this way I shall ensure I am giving selflessly. I plan to post mid weekly or weekly but the acts of selfless giving must happen every single day. I shall maintain a calendar of the same.
2. The best thing to happen would be if people read my blog and be motivated to help strangers and their friends in turn start following them too. Very similar to the concept of "The Ice Bucket Challenge" or closer to home, the movie "Jai Ho". Those who are already helping the needy do let me know of acts of kindness so I can replicate it too in whatever way I can...(Adding clichéd line) The world would be a much better place to live in, wouldn't it?

I am excited to get on to this journey, there might be times I am exhausted and out of ideas and this is my trial but I intend to finish this road and see the end of it. Fingers crossed. 

Yours Truly,
Work in Progress Selfless Giver.