IMPORTANCE OF SHARING HAPPINESS IN ORPHANAGES

”An act of goodness is of itself an act of happiness.” – Maurice Maeterlinck

Sharing is one of the important virtues that brings happiness into our lives. Not only does sharing bring us joy, it teaches us the importance of taking care of others. Sharing does not mean that we require materialistic things to give to other people that makes them happy. it can be as simple as sharing something you feel with someone, like a compliment. “You did a great job today,” is one example.Those simple words can often make someone feel special and cared for, and in return, make the one who said them happy. Sharing experiences or advice to someone younger or older than you can be of great help. In fact one of the best things you can share with others is your own happiness. 

Parents are among the most important people in the lives of young children. From birth, We rely on our parents to provide us with the care we need to be happy and healthy, and to grow and develop well. We often demand for various things that make us happy and mostly our demands are fulfilled .But, what about the kids who live in orphanages? Orphanages are shelter homes that take care of children who don’t have parents or those who are left by their parents.

These children often lack parental love but the kids share love and happiness amongst each other and live like a family by taking care of each other. What is their source of happiness? Anything that brings joy to a kid can bring joy to an orphan kid. They do not need lavish things to feel happy. They just need to feel that there is someone who shows concern towards them. That’s a big enough reason to bring them happiness. There are enormous ways in which one can help orphanages like contributing towards the charity and funds that are required to run the orphanage. Apart from funding we can also:

• Teach them a subject
• Arrange for a lunch
• Organise field trips with the children.
• Coordinate with local teachers in the orphanage.
• Bring them daily essentials

Yes! That does help the organisation and the children to a large extent but what about the love and fun that every child needs to get? You might get a lot of things for the kids at the orphanage, but all they need is some love from you.These kids live together within the four walls of the orphanage and have no major source of entertainment.

Their day starts and ends within the boundaries of their home. They do not have freedom to go outside and experience the outer world according to their choice. We humans are social animals and need people to talk to and express every single day.Those kids too need new people to interact with and the least we can do is take out some time from our schedule and make them happy in whichever way we can.We can sing songs with them, dance with them, celebrate a festival ,eat food together and just be there with them to guide them at every point of their lives. The smile on their faces is something every person needs to experience at least once in their life time.

 Happiness flowing from goodwill is infectious and timeless.The kids make us realise that happiness is not just having luxuries, expensive games, or fancy clothing. It is making someone else happy through selfless contributions and sharing joys and sorrows with others.We used to hardly spend quality time with anyone, not even with our own family but the pandemic made us realise the importance of sharing happiness and love with the people around us.

When we spend time with homeless people, kids, people living in old-age homes, it gives happiness to both the giver and the receiver. When we serve others, we serve ourselves. Sharing our joy increases joy. We are not aware of the extent of happiness that a kid receives by just having fun with outsiders, but our time is the greatest gift to them and we should all take a pledge to visit them more often.

Telling people about our happiness has far greater benefits than just remembering it or writing it down for ourselves. So, let us spread happiness in orphanages and have fun with the kids and give them atleast what we can. Albert Schweitzer, a German physician and Nobel Peace Prize winner, was right when he said “Happiness is the only thing that multiplies when you share it.”