DINING IN THE DARK.... One Friday evening I was invited by an MNC vendor to an event which they had organised, to raise funds for the visually handicapped people in a centre for blind people. As usual, since it was a Friday evening, I first thought of skipping 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 to pass some time, meet few people and nothing else. When I went there, there were approx. 40 people from various industries invited for the event. I found some Indians and naturally talked to them about life in Singapore, etc. Initially we were shown a video about the visually handicapped centre, what were their activities, how they were helping blind people in Singapore to live 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 fulfilment they got by helping them. After the video, we were gathered in a hall and briefed about next event. The theme of the next event was Dining in the Dark.” And this is the event which turned out to be inspiring and worth sharing. What it meant was that we 40+ people were going to have Dinner in a pitch dark room! The next two hours were completely planned, organized, directed and executed by three blind youths. One was a girl (leader) and the other two boys were her assistants, 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 their life easier). 1. When you sit at your table things will be placed as follows : · At 3 o’clock of your dish : you will find a spoon. · At 9 o’clock : fork · At 12 o’clock : spoon. · At 2 o’clock : empty glass · Dish at the centre 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 walls 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 have to stop pouring. She asked whether everyone had understood . All said yes but everyone was confused and trying to remember what she said and confirming with each other. The next 1½ hours we spent were full of fun and learning. In a completely pitch dark room where we could not see anything, we were enjoying various delicious foods without seeing it. We were taken in groups in the dark hall. Each one was directed by a blind person till he / she sat on a chair. 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 5-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 exactly vegetarian dishes to vegetarian people who were sitting randomly in the room. While registering online we were asked to choose between Vegetarian and Non Vegetarian.” I had obviously chosen Vegetarian, being one. We were so nicely hosted that we did not have to wait in between serves. As we were finishing one dish, we were served the next without any delay. After approx. one-and-a-half-hour of dining in the dark, the leader asked whether everyone had finished eating. After confirmation, 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 beautiful eyes to see this beautiful world. We realized how difficult the lives of blind people (and other handicapped) are, 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 lives. We realized how unfortunate we are, that we do not value the simple things in life we have, and cry (sometime louder, sometimes within ourselves) and run after what we dont have, for whole of our lives, without having time to adore the things that we have. Be cheerful. Adore whatever you have in life. You may try for whatever you don’t have; but never feel sad about it. You need to experience it; something like what I had experienced, to believe this philosophy of life. Just start counting all the good things you have. Eyes, ears, nose, good hands, good legs, etc. There are hundreds and hundreds of things Mother Nature has gifted to us. But our human tendency is that we forget all good things we have in life and focus only on things that we don’t have and start grumbling and complaining in life. This is due to sheer ignorance. A wise person would only count those good things Mother Nature has given and be ever grateful for them.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 14:25:22 +0000
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