Freedom Speaks: The Hands of Love Challenge (part III)

Kent Vital

We are encouraging everyone in the nation to get involved in a renewed effort to help others and show kindness.  We are referring to this as the “Hands of Love” challenge. The recommendation is for persons to take at least one day in every month to make a special effort to help others.

In last week’s article we encouraged groups of persons to bind together to reignite love and togetherness in our nation through acts of kindness. We also laid out some principles to guide us as we reach out to those who need help.

What exactly can be done to help others? Following are some suggestions.

Consider cooking for a neighbour who may need a break or who can do with the extra-time saved to accomplish other important tasks. It may also be a way of helping with their nutrition if you are aware that they are in need, or it may be that someone is sick and may need that kind of support.

You can also help those in need with other household chores such as doing laundry, house or yard cleaning. This may be particularly helpful to the elderly and expecting mothers.

How about paying from your own pocket a utility bill for someone whom you know is struggling to make ends meet; or you may offer to run errands such as paying bills for those who are challenged due to age, illness or other circumstances. In these modern times, consider helping someone with navigating bill payments online, and/or offer to have them use your computer or phone to do so.

Try going to garden with someone who could do with a little help.

Volunteer to help with home repairs especially where you realize that someone does not have the resources to hire workers.

You may offer to babysit for someone who needs a break.  Caring for young children can be very tiring and mothers would welcome a break so that they can recharge.

Visit a nursing home and spend time talking or listening to those residents who want to socialize. Sing or play an instrument for them if you can. But we may want to put this one on hold for now given the need to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Find someone in the community to celebrate. It may be a hard-working father or mother, a caring teacher or a nurse, or anyone who makes a contribution to the community that is deeply appreciated. If it is ok with them, drop by with a group of your friends and tell them how much they are appreciated. Bring along a gift if you can – maybe something fun or something that you know they could do with.

Donate some clothes to a family that you realize is in need.  It may be new or used clothing in good conditions.

Get involved in volunteer community work. Community efforts enrich the life of several community residents at the same time, be it, among others, working on improving road access that would make life easier for residents; improving community recreational facilities; or cleaning or tidying the community to make it a more pleasant place to live.  Let us not wait until Community Day of Service to get into action and by so doing let us revive community spirit.

Invite someone in need to a holiday celebration with your family. It may be a less fortune family that needs that extra touch. The Christmas celebrations is already upon us, this is a favorite time of year for many and a good season to show love and concern for others.

Consider mentoring a younger person who shows potential or who needs to be guided away from the wrong path, or offer lessons to struggling students.  You can offer to exercise with a neighbour, friend acquaintance or coworker who may need to be motivated to improve their health.

Why not take up a cause on someone’s behalf such as helping to raise funds to meet medical expenses or to do critical home repairs?

Don’t forget to do the little things – saying thank you and good morning, complementing others even strangers, making eye contact and so on. Bring a small gift (a chocolate, a fruit, a book) to someone who is totally not expecting it – and do so for no special reason at all. That will just let them know that they are appreciated.  You may never know how much you encourage people by doing these little things.

Seek out those who appear to be lonely and make it your duty to strike up a conversation with them every now and then.

There are many other ways to help others, but we can indeed make Dominica the happiest land on earth. That is a worthy goal to pursue.  We do have a long way to go, but let use start by showing kindness to others and helping those in need. You will be surprise how much that will do for your own health and happiness!

 

Kent Vital

Political Leader

Dominica Freedom Party

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5 Comments

  1. Man bites dogs
    November 24, 2020

    @Sybil, join the UWP that is your best bet! My life what a joke, this is the worst advice ever anyone can get it’s like jumping out of the pan into the fire, who needs friends like you! 🙊 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣 🤣

  2. Dominica first
    November 23, 2020

    Mr. Vital,

    Thank you for the kind words and suggestions. We need more of this type of article to keep us positive.
    You guys also had a very positive and informative program last week about the Dominican students studying in the USA. That was an eye opener.
    DFP please stay focus on the positive and you will win me back over.

  3. Man bites dogs
    November 23, 2020

    Mr Vidal, This is a very nice gesture as far as I am concerned BUT unfortunately until you stop associating with Mr Frankenstein – Lennox Linton, no one will take you seriously! I’m not a so-called qualified professional adviser but one thing I know do not let that monster Linton, mess up whatever brains you have to me and others you don’t know which side of the wall you’re either a donkey or a Mule!

    • Viewsexpressed
      November 27, 2020

      Man Bites Dogs, this is a disgusting Immature distasteful statement that you wrote.
      We may not be of the same political party. Therefore we must demonstrate decency and respect to to those who come forward on their own will in sharing points of concern to all of us.
      The UWP, under Hon Lennox Linton is a formidable decent trusted committed and experienced Team.
      Hon. Linton must be respected for his commitment in preparation for government ably supported by his trusted UWP Team and welcome all those who have to date recognise and follows the decent messages from Jon
      Linton and trusted mature UWPTeam.
      Skerrit must go mm meaning” Get the Hell out of our government that you have us and the people of Dominica. Skerrit is not developmentally appropriate and sufficiently mature enough be in leadership and Prime Minister of Dominica.
      Over 20 failed years in Government Skerrit has failed us, we the people of Dominica and has ruined our economy. Skerrit:s a pappyshow, a failure and must…

  4. Sybil nowell
    November 23, 2020

    Join the UWP that is your best bet. A one man band is boring and lonely. They can teach you a thing or two. Stop wasting your time.

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