Just thinking about others. (Week 276)

--- >I have always enjoyed helping others with what I can and what I have. I believe that two valuable things in this world are time and knowledge, which are more valuable than money. ---  --- The feeling of doing something for someone who really needs it, or who is lost in various ways, or perhaps contributing something you have with the sole aim of bringing smiles and happiness to the other person... that feeling is the most wonderful thing in the world. Every time I have had the opportunity to help many people with simple things such as words, encouragement, and support, I have felt the need to do so. I have been like this all my life; my heart simply rejoices on those occasions. But there are two moments that I remember right now, two moments close together in time, when I loved being able to give what the other person needed without further ado. I never called myself altruistic; in fact, I never use that word, but simply support, help. --- --- When I arrived in Spain, everything was too hard. I was so lost, alone, overwhelmed, stressed; everything was a world unto itself, but I managed to learn and get through the first difficult months. Two months after arriving, when I had everything more or less in order, my papers and so on, an acquaintance of my brother's arrived from Argentina with the same goal and in the same circumstances as me, a young man of 25, but the difference was that I was already here and I offered to help him with everything. I didn't want him to go through what I had gone through; I knew how it felt. >I found him a room to rent, I cooked for him because he didn't know how to cook, I accompanied him to every appointment he had to make for his papers. I gave him all my time and knowledge about the first steps. And when he began to feel uprooted, something that all of us who leave the land where we were born go through, when he cried, I was there to accompany him and offer words of comfort. He couldn't take it and went back to Argentina, he missed his family too much, but that last goodbye hug was very emotional. When he arrived, I didn't know him, and when he left, after a month, I knew more about him than his friends did, and I felt that I had given my all. ---  --- The other occasion, which took place in March 2018, I remember because it was a specific date. It was a party to celebrate the 45th anniversary of my mother's graduation and her schoolmates. At first, it was going to be a simple affair, where one of the classmates said he could bring music recorded on a pen drive, but none of them knew how to use it. I think it was actually a joint altruistic effort between my brother and me, as we offered to organise everything without asking for anything in return. And the party went from being music on a pen drive to a super party with the right equipment, music of our choice, karaoke, and not only that, but I also offered to make a video with photographs from that time of all my mother's classmates. >It was a two-month job. I went to my mother's school at the time, made an appointment to visit and take photographs of it for the video. I organised a step-by-step schedule for the party. I felt like an event organiser. My brother was in charge of getting the music equipment and playing it on the day. I also offered to make souvenirs, which consisted of a photograph of the whole group from that time and one taken at the party, which I would print on the spot. I took all my graphic design equipment to the hall, including my computer, printer and photographic paper. I took the photographs, filmed videos and used all the material to make a CD for each of my mother's classmates. My brother and I covered all the costs. I also organised the tables, bought tablecloths, and everything else needed to set up the venue. >At that time, they were all 65 years old, and seeing their happy faces, how they smiled, sang, and danced was so meaningful to me. They were unable to celebrate their 50th anniversary, so this party was the last one of their lives, all together. --- |||| |-|-|-| |||| |||| I believe that what you do with your heart, putting your soul into it, is very valuable, and I do it whenever I can. Thank you, @galenkp, for these [weekend topics](https://peakd.com/hive-168869/@galenkp/weekend-engagement-topics-week-276), which are always excellent. Thank you all very much for reading today. I wish you a very good weekend. See you soon. Amonet. |||| |-|-|-| |||| |||| _{All photographs are my own. Used translator [Deepl.com](https://www.deepl.com/translator) free version.}