A Simple Act of Kindness Makes A Difference

http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/03/05/your-letters-the-ordinary-heroes-out-there.html

Immersing in my novel, I turned a deaf ear of the creaky child-like voice at the other end of the line. Afterall, there were some men sat near where the voice came from, so I thought, providing a justification on my selfish-action. Additionally, it was not any time soon the train would run again due to hours of delayed schedule. Securing a seat seemed to provide a refuge to my weary limbs. Sadly, the others had similar thought. So, no one offered the child a seat.

Yes, I have to admit, we are a bunch of selfish inconsiderate commuters who put our own interests above others. Our own comfort is the number one priority. As urban dwellers, we are increasingly becoming more self-centered. We lack care and concern for one another. The cruel city has turned our heart into stone. Ops, or it’s just our own true nature resurface when faced with hardship.

Long have we been gloated about heroism. Even Pancasila as the official philosophical foundation of the Indonesian state has long taught the concept of heroism. Fortunately, such word is not yet ingrained in soul. Today we sometimes toss the word around without thinking much about it. We understand the concept of a hero. We often fail to follow such path even in its simplest deed.

By actual definition, heroes are individuals who consistently and continually sacrifice their own needs in the interest of others. They change others for the better. Their inks leave prints forever in others. They are ordinary people who do extraordinary things and make a difference.

I was sitting on the computer this evening, trying to be productive and actually write something after weeks of absent from writing. During this deadlock, my husband switched on the TV and ‘voila’ I watched an inspiring program of “Kick Andy’s Heroes 2014.”

The show was remarkable and moving, an inspiration and reminder of what the word hero is intended to mean. It provided a sense of hope and concrete examples of what we could all do to help lift ourselves as a society out of what was a pretty dark moment took hold.

Indeed Kick Andy Show has always been as an anomaly amid hundreds of TV programs full with violence, corrupting soap operas, boring political warring, twisted parade of twisted corrupted justice system and woman sexuality. The show offers fresh outlook and beautiful insights about human as a social being complete with all their potential.

The Kick Andy’s Heroes spotlights the everyday heroes among us. They are not famous celebrities, politicians or executives. They are ordinary people just like us. Yet, they are agents of hope and change who had committed themselves to improving the lives of others.

These ordinary people are beautiful example of how simply living your life with a spirit of generosity and kindness can make a huge difference in the lives of all those you touch. They work in silence, far away from any publication, yet their work touch the life of may and bring light out of the dark.

Two heroes that stole my attention tonight are Ibu Fitria Nugrahaningrum and Bapak Lalu Slamet Suriawan Shak. Becoming permanently blind at four did not discourage Ibu Fitria to give something to her community. Nurturing and educating street children has helped them to pursue a better life.

While Bapak Slamet has crazily chopped off the 18 metres stony hill to bring water to his desolated village. What once deemed as an impossible nut job bore fruit after 30 years of perseverance, faith, and hard work. The barren wasted land is magically turned into acres of green paddies fields and plantation. The water has drastically changed the life of people in his area economically and socially.

Then I think about my selfish action during that cursed day when my train suffered a glitch. I should have offered the child with his mother a seat instead of pretending not to notice. If only we, commuters, can at least do such simple act of kindness, perhaps it helps living in the city worthwhile. Perhaps, it helps us and others to contribute to make the city life better J