While these are all good things, they do not exactly align with who I am as a person.
On values, charity, impact, and being like water.
Hello guys! How are you doing? I hope you’re enjoying the holiday. Things aren’t so merry here except for the frequent bang sounds from fireworks. Anyhoo, I’m glad I got to take a break from school.
During the week, I wrote an essay for an application. I wrote three essays actually, but a particular one stood out for me. While I wrote the essay, I immediately knew I wanted to share it in this newsletter. I contemplated narrating the content, but I realized I wouldn’t do justice to it. (Plus I literally don’t have the strength to do so much these days).
So, I’ll leave you to read the essay prompt and how I responded.
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Essay Prompt: When do you lose track of time? What does it say about your values?
My reply:
If I had submitted this application a week, five days, or even two days earlier, I would have written ‘charity’ or ‘volunteering’ without hesitation. In fact, my draft says it all. But recently, something happened that changed my entire perspective. Now, I have a different story to tell.
While I used to think charity and the concept of making an impact were only about attending or organizing outreach programs for the underprivileged, a recent conversation with a friend widen my myopic perspective. In her words, “I do not see myself as a person who goes out to feed the less privileged on the street or visit orphanage homes. While these are all good things, they do not exactly align with who I am as a person. Since I can not easily make those impacts, I create things that make their life easier. I design things that make them happy, and I’m even more elated when they love it. That to me, is also charity.”
No matter what route is taken, or how tainted the pair of glasses being viewed through is, the word ‘Impact’ still means one important thing —having a strong influence on someone or something.
Going through my list of core values, it’s no coincidence that one of the most repeated words asides from Growth was Impact. So whether it is being a part of an organization that gives charity to the underprivileged kids, visiting orphanage homes, conducting a hepatitis outreach amidst a global pandemic, cleaning the streets to save Mother Nature, or creating designs (solutions) that solve peoples’ problems, Impact is one act of service that brings me so much fulfilment.
So to answer the question, what makes me lose track of time? Impact does.
Instead of writing an excerpt from a book I read, I'll write a quote that I found really interesting. Let’s just say I didn’t exactly read so much this week. But we move sha.
Poet and novelist Margaret Atwood on being like water:
"Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing, in the end, can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away a stone. Remember that, my child. Remember you are half water. If you can't go through an obstacle, go around it. Water does."
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Happy holidays!
Yosola.
As regards making an impact here is an Hadith to support you
Abu Darda reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, “Bring the orphan close to you, pat his head, and feed him with the same food you eat. It will soften your heart and fulfill your need.”
Happy holidays, Yosola.
Oops. Where have I seen that essay prompt?