The Power of Giving Back

Have you ever wondered why the world is not fair? Why there will always be a distinction between the rich and the poor, the intelligent and the ignorant, the successful and the mediocre, an invincible line segregating humanity? The world is a land filled with harsh truths and realities, nothing like the fairy tales ending with “happily ever after”.

How then, do we make the best out of what we have? The answer is simple, loving yourself and most importantly, giving back to society. Giving back to society is simple. It doesn’t need to be glamorous or extravagant, something as simple as a random act of kindness towards a neighbour is already a form of giving back. Imagine going home after a tiring day of work and finding a small basket of goodies accompanied by a note assuring you that everything is going to be fine. These random acts of kindness can be wholesome, which is becoming more and more uncommon in a fast-paced country like Singapore. See? The power of something so simple...

Of course, more commonplace methods of volunteering would be donating one’s time at non-profit organisations, animal shelters etc, or donating money to a cause they believe in. Sometimes volunteering may not yield immediate results but with time improvements will start to show. No matter how minute, you know that your contributions have played a part in making a difference in someone’s life. This is rewarding and gratifying on many levels because it is a big deal and a little goes a long way.

Giving back to society is essential, almost like a moral obligation for the fortunate to help the less fortunate. Ray Kroc once said,

“We have an obligation to give something back to the community that gives so much to us.”

Since such responsibility has already been ingrained in society, why not fulfil it? Giving back never hurts! In fact, the world is one where many of us have become victims of materialism. We compare what we physically have, often overlooking the fact that people need love. We need love to be rational but coincidentally is what we lack. Giving back to society proves that love exists, that we are indeed not selfish individuals who lack care and love for the community. Giving back gives people the hope of humanity and it adds meaning to our lives.

Given this, I come back to my first point of hierarchy in society. Mother Theresa once said,

“At the end of our lives we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by: I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.”

No matter which side of the line you currently stand, one thing remains constant, our morals. So at the end of the day, regardless of what you wear or what your IQ is, the most important thing is to always have the heart for giving back to society, for “what goes around comes around”. Everyone goes through rough patches, but the state at which we come out of it is completely up to society and how much people are willing to give.

So what does giving back to society mean to you then? Type in the comments below!

Written By: Alexis Lee Edited By: Tan Hui Ling