Yayasan Suria JB (YSJB) – Getting out of our COMFORT ZONE!
Yes, this seems to be the most difficult thing to do for many of us. We prefer to stay in our own little comfort zone where life is good and safe, not bothering about others, for we are safe and sound in our own little world and couldn’t care less about what is happening outside as it doesn’t involve us, right? NOMB (None Of My Business)!
Clicking and sending messages via our HP, in the comfort of our homes, having enough to eat, no need to worry about rental payments and life is so good.
On the other hand, volunteers like us have chosen the path less traveled – we are always in the “uncomfortable zone” where we get out of our “comfort zone” into this “uncomfortable zone” where growth and meaning of life lie, a zone where we experienced “richness” as we step into the lives and worlds of many people.
To volunteers like us, we want to be in this “uncomfortable zone”, we chose this zone where we experience humanness, humility and l
ve. This has become a habit and it is second nature to us – it is a cultivated habit!
You need to be “in it” to savour and experience its “richness”, not in terms of material wealth but richness that money can’t buy!
It is the starting to get away from your comfort zone that is the MOST DIFFICULT, some just can’t leave their comfort zone, you have to be “selfless”, not selfish, to get into a starting position – I know it’s hard, not physically but mentally, you just have to do it once first, no matter how small, how difficult or mundane the task is.
Example: If you see a small kid selling curry puffs outside a bank, just buy all of them, say 25 pieces @ RM1.50 a piece (RM37.50), give him/her RM40 or better RM50.
Ask the kid to go home to study, give all the curry puffs away to anyone you see deemed fit (roadside sweeper, some old uncles/aunties, guards at housing estates, etc).
You will have experienced a nice sense of achievement/happiness knowing that you have helped so many people, just with your RM40 to RM50. A fantastic feeling!
Or just volunteering at a children’s home, reading story books to them, cutting their finger/toe nails or whatever – this is what I call “serving with Lve & humility!
Recently, we got a group of volunteers from S’pore(NGIs), all young working adults, some 20 of them, paid for their expenses, travelled all the way from S’pore to JB and back on same day volunteering for YSJB, their spirit of volunteerism is so contagious that our volunteers here are catching their “virus”, making us more “immune” – we are getting “high” when volunteers from both sides of the causeway(S’pore & Malaysia) teamed up helping Malaysians. What a sacrifice for the Singaporeans in terms of their time and money getting “happiness” that money can’t buy!
Salutations to all the members of the SG VOLUNTEERS!
Start small, start somewhere but START – soon you get the kick or bitten by the bug and you want to be a full time volunteer like what all of us at YSJB are doing – we don’t get paid but we are a “happy bunch of special people!”
We are all just like ships. A ship when built (just like when God made man) is not meant to be anchored in the harbour, the ship is meant to sail the high seas (storms, high waves), to visit places (volunteers visit the people needing help) and to carry goods all around the world (volunteers carry their “clients”, helping them).
God has given you a lamp to go forth and shine (helping HUMANITY) throughout the world. Please do not keep your lamp under your bed, it is of no use, the light can’t shine far. What a waste!
I urge everyone to START getting out of your comfort zone, it’s never easy but a START must be made somewhere/some time and you will experience a journey where you want to keep on travelling, helping the Poor & Needy with Lve and in return, you get joy & happiness that money can’t buy!
GET OUT OF YOU COMFORT ZONE and start living!