Many times we think that we will do something nice to the one we love on Valentine’s day or an Anniversary day (which we try hard not to forget ). We will show how much we love our parents on their birthdays or on Father and Mother’s Days. We will let our friends know that we care about them at a special party or when we have a chance to meet them in person. We will let the world perceive that we are actually good and understand “how to give” on a day we are rich.

Well, in fact, nice things won’t actually happen on the big day but it can happen right here. . .   right now. . . and with anyone or any thing living around us.

If you just step out of your door and take a short walk on a street in the neighborhood, I’m sure you will at least come across someone or something who is sick, who is hungry, who doesn’t know even how to go through a day, and who needs help so very much.

Today I walked out to grab lunch on the street behind my luxury apartment. I passed the first security guard, looking completely pale and sick. I passed another security guard by the gate who had nothing to feed the fully pregnant, stray cat. And finally, I passed a woman, walking with a very sick stray dog that she was kind enough to help.

I fed myself with street food, cooked by a single, middle-age woman (with a useless teenager son), in order to support her business. Then, I dropped by a 7Eleven to break a big bank note and to buy a huge bag of stuff, not for myself but for others. I then made my way back:

• Paid my food bill and told the woman to keep the small change (with my lovely smile);
• Gave a big bottle of milk to the lady who took care of the sick, stray dog, and said to her this is my little contribution to the sick dog;
• Gave a bag of cat food to the security man so he could feed the pregnant cat for a week;
• Handed two packs of miIk and a bottle of high concentrated protein drink to the first security man by the door way, who had probably not slept for 2 nights.

These are nice little things that I did on the day I took off from work. (Did I mention to you that I am sick today?) Yes, I am sick and resting at home. For a consultant like me, losing a day’s work means losing income – just so you know.

Anyway, the things that I want to leave with you are: nice things can come from you on any day, at any time, and can be offered to anyone you come across. Nice things can even happen on the days you lose or you are sick because giving is not something that is limited by your physical or metal limitations. By doing so, you look further than yourself and you will gain something even bigger. . .

What you gain is the happiness of a normal human being who is capable of doing good for the others who share the same world as you. It does not require big bucks or needing to wait for the big day. It is there for you and waiting for you even to pay the smallest attention to.

PS: Thanks to my English tutor, Al Da Silva, who happily reviewed this piece with me – and with love.