Below attached information is true inspiring story, happened with my mentor's friend, who is working in Singapore. I'm sure you will like it.
"I am sharing this wonderful experience a friend of mine recently had in Singapore.
I was invited to one Friday evening event by one of MNC Vendor organization who had organized the event to raise funds for the visually handicapped people in a center for blind people.
Since it was a Friday evening, I first thought to skip the event considering it could be a bit boring and rather spend the evening relaxing by some other means.
But being alone and sometimes finding it difficult to kill time, I thought of accepting the invitation and registered online for booking. Moreover it was free :) which was another motivation to go to the event. I was looking at the event as a means to pass some time, meet few people and nothing else.
When I went there, there were approx 40 people from various industries invited for that event. I found some Indians and naturally talked to them about how life is in Singapore etc etc. Initially we were shown a video about the visually handicapped center. What are their activities, how are they helping blind people in Singapore to lead a more fulfilling life, etc . It was a short 15 minute video and quite inspiring; how people from different walks of life spend time in helping these blind people without expecting anything in return. They shared the satisfaction and fulfillment they get by helping them.
After the video, we all were gathered in a hall and were briefed about the next event. The theme of the next event was "Dining in the Dark". And this was the event which turned out to be so inspiring and worth sharing.
What it meant was that all 40+ people present were going to have Dinner in a pitch dark room !!!! The next 2 hours were completely planned, organized, directed and executed by three blind youths. One was a girl ( Leader ) and the other two were boys, assistantig her, thus forming a team of three blind volunteers.
The blind leader first gave us tips for dining ( These were ACTUAL STANDARDS THE BLIND PEOPLE FOLLOW IN ORDER TO MAKE
THERE LIFE EASIER )
1, When you sit at your table the things will be placed as follows :
at 3 o clock of your dish : You will find a spoon.
at 9 o clock : Fork; 12 o clock : spoon. 2 o clock : Empty Glass
Dish at the center with Paper napkin tucked at 6 o clock.
2. There will be two large Jugs circulated to you. The Jug with plain walls will have water and the Jug with curved wall will have orange juice.
3. When you get your Jug based on your choice you have to pour it in your glass. You have to dip your forefinger in the glass so that when you fill it and the liquid touches your finger, you stop pouring.
She asked whether everyone had understood . All said yes but everyone was confused and trying to remember what she had said and confirming from each other. The next 1 1/2 hours we spent were full of fun and learning. In a completely pitch dark room where we could not see ANYTHING, we were enjoying varieties of delicious food without seeing it.
All 40 of us were taken in groups in the dark hall . Each one was directed by a blind person and was seated into their respective chairs. ( We were finding it awkward because actually we are supposed to guide blind people to their destination and help them )
We were served a full five course dinner by this team of three blind people- welcome drinks, appetizers, starters , main course and desserts. The amazing thing was that the team of three blind people were serving vegetarian dishes to vegetarian people who were sitting randomly in the room !!!
While registering online we were asked to declare whether we were "Vegetarian" or "Non vegetarian". Being one, I chose the former. We were so nicely hosted that we did not have to wait in between serves . As we wud be finishing one dish, we were served with the next without any delays.
After approx 1 and half hours of dining in the dark, the leader asked whether everyone had finished eating. After confirmation from us, she switched on the lights of the dining room. We left the Dining Room with tears in our eyes.
We realized how lucky we are and how we have been gifted with perfect vision to see the beautiful world. We realized how difficult lives of blind people are ( and other handicapped) without being able to see. We realized how uncomfortable we were for just two hours without being able to see anything and how they must be living their entire lives in this condition! We realized how unfortunate we are, that we do not value such simple things in life we have and crib, sometimes overtly and sometimes quietly, and run after what we claim we don't have, and ignore the blessings we are blessed with!
Be cheerful. Value whatever you have in life. There's no harm in striving harder for more, but don't make it the basis of your existence, don't make it a rule that you MUST have more! You'll never have the time or the inclination even, to enjoy what you already have, if you do!
You need to experience it , something like I had experienced , to believe this philosophy of life."
I was invited to one Friday evening event by one of MNC Vendor organization who had organized the event to raise funds for the visually handicapped people in a center for blind people.
Since it was a Friday evening, I first thought to skip the event considering it could be a bit boring and rather spend the evening relaxing by some other means.
But being alone and sometimes finding it difficult to kill time, I thought of accepting the invitation and registered online for booking. Moreover it was free :) which was another motivation to go to the event. I was looking at the event as a means to pass some time, meet few people and nothing else.
When I went there, there were approx 40 people from various industries invited for that event. I found some Indians and naturally talked to them about how life is in Singapore etc etc. Initially we were shown a video about the visually handicapped center. What are their activities, how are they helping blind people in Singapore to lead a more fulfilling life, etc . It was a short 15 minute video and quite inspiring; how people from different walks of life spend time in helping these blind people without expecting anything in return. They shared the satisfaction and fulfillment they get by helping them.
After the video, we all were gathered in a hall and were briefed about the next event. The theme of the next event was "Dining in the Dark". And this was the event which turned out to be so inspiring and worth sharing.
What it meant was that all 40+ people present were going to have Dinner in a pitch dark room !!!! The next 2 hours were completely planned, organized, directed and executed by three blind youths. One was a girl ( Leader ) and the other two were boys, assistantig her, thus forming a team of three blind volunteers.
The blind leader first gave us tips for dining ( These were ACTUAL STANDARDS THE BLIND PEOPLE FOLLOW IN ORDER TO MAKE
THERE LIFE EASIER )
1, When you sit at your table the things will be placed as follows :
at 3 o clock of your dish : You will find a spoon.
at 9 o clock : Fork; 12 o clock : spoon. 2 o clock : Empty Glass
Dish at the center with Paper napkin tucked at 6 o clock.
2. There will be two large Jugs circulated to you. The Jug with plain walls will have water and the Jug with curved wall will have orange juice.
3. When you get your Jug based on your choice you have to pour it in your glass. You have to dip your forefinger in the glass so that when you fill it and the liquid touches your finger, you stop pouring.
She asked whether everyone had understood . All said yes but everyone was confused and trying to remember what she had said and confirming from each other. The next 1 1/2 hours we spent were full of fun and learning. In a completely pitch dark room where we could not see ANYTHING, we were enjoying varieties of delicious food without seeing it.
All 40 of us were taken in groups in the dark hall . Each one was directed by a blind person and was seated into their respective chairs. ( We were finding it awkward because actually we are supposed to guide blind people to their destination and help them )
We were served a full five course dinner by this team of three blind people- welcome drinks, appetizers, starters , main course and desserts. The amazing thing was that the team of three blind people were serving vegetarian dishes to vegetarian people who were sitting randomly in the room !!!
While registering online we were asked to declare whether we were "Vegetarian" or "Non vegetarian". Being one, I chose the former. We were so nicely hosted that we did not have to wait in between serves . As we wud be finishing one dish, we were served with the next without any delays.
After approx 1 and half hours of dining in the dark, the leader asked whether everyone had finished eating. After confirmation from us, she switched on the lights of the dining room. We left the Dining Room with tears in our eyes.
We realized how lucky we are and how we have been gifted with perfect vision to see the beautiful world. We realized how difficult lives of blind people are ( and other handicapped) without being able to see. We realized how uncomfortable we were for just two hours without being able to see anything and how they must be living their entire lives in this condition! We realized how unfortunate we are, that we do not value such simple things in life we have and crib, sometimes overtly and sometimes quietly, and run after what we claim we don't have, and ignore the blessings we are blessed with!
Be cheerful. Value whatever you have in life. There's no harm in striving harder for more, but don't make it the basis of your existence, don't make it a rule that you MUST have more! You'll never have the time or the inclination even, to enjoy what you already have, if you do!
You need to experience it , something like I had experienced , to believe this philosophy of life."
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