Winter break: Being a part of something

A couple months ago I wrote a post moaning on how I did not feel like I was being an " all-rounded" student. I was in a slump. All I seemed to do was go to lectures, go out for coffee( alone) and study in the library or secretly log on to Pinterest while no one is looking. My college experience was... boring. I needed to do something, make something, Be PART of something

So I signed up for a couple societies. For instance a poetry society, a literature society and an outreach society. There has not been much going on, except for one really great poetry evening I went to. It is a start, at least to step out my little library.

Last Saturday, the society I joined, Benevolence participated in a community outreach. Basically it is a Christian society that does these outreach projects by raising funds, soup kitchens etc. Being the newbie, I was excited. Not only would I have the opportunity hopefully to make a difference in someone's life for a day, I could also get to meet new people. And be a PART of something. Actually "belong". 

So the morning started off with a group prayer in one of the group member's homes and carrying heavy pots, buckets of drinks etc to the " park". Now before that morning, I thought the park would be like green filled with kids playing around on swings and jungle-gyms. It was quite the opposite. We were literally on the side of the street in the middle of town, hoping to catch the attention of people around. So we waited... and we waited and no one came. Here we are thinking: " wow! look at all this food we have brought to feed hundreds of people!"

After a few members of our group spread the word around that there was " free food", the people came. and they came. Even people who were not homeless came trying to get a plate, driving their nice cars... I mean, really guys? 

Anyway, in total we fed about 96 people who told us to come again. It was sad though when one homeless man said that this was his meal for the day. Others remarked saying they wish we could come everyday. I do. I wish that people could have a hot meal to look forward to everyday .

 I say it was a day well-spent, as opposed to being a potato back home. I do not want to sound melodramatic or Mother Teresa like, but there are little things we must not forget to not take for granted. Like warm showers, hot food, under floor heating... 

Which brings me to the whole being thankful thing... I have noticed that no matter what curveballs life brings, there is so many positive things in our life which outweigh the negative. 

Peace and love

xoxo 

Imani Dlamini