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.