Are you sure you got what it takes to be an activist?

What does it mean to become an activist, volunteer to the community? First and foremost, we must have the desire to add value to people's lives and indirectly add value to ourselves.

Every now and then, especially when we have nothing much to do, we might think that perhaps we can become a volunteer or an activist, which can somehow enrich our lives or add some spice to it. Isn't that a good thought... but the bad news is whenever you want to embark on your journey of becoming an activist somehow there must be some mundane everyday activity where you have to attend just so much as to show your presence.

The real challenge to be a volunteer is not whether there any organisation that will accept you but are you willing to forgo your status as an insignificant number in a community or stand up and be counted as one that dares to make a difference in people's lives.

Yes...yes...yes... what's so wrong about being insignificant? You may ask.... Absolutely nothing. All it means is you can slumber (lepak-lepak) for all you want just waiting for something or better still hoping nothing will happen to you and you will die leaving nothing to your name let alone for people to offer a thought for you as a Sedekah Jariah for your life in the Barzakh...

That is if provided there's nothing that can happen, what if something were to happen? Who would you turn to?

Well, I do not want to discuss about that now. What I want to tell you is this, I've encountered several incidents that a so called activist had chickened out just a few weeks or worst still a few days before an activity. Reciting family commitment. All was planned months ahead and the activity had to be cancelled just because there is some family commitment. Aren't the people you are involved in is like a family too? And why must a planned activity be compromised when everyone is expecting it to happen.

Every good thing or achievement can be realised only if you are willing to make sacrifices. There will always be family gatherings, ceremonies on the day that a planned activity is going to take place whether you like it or not. These family activity which is unplanned is ideal for insignificant people to find an excuse just to hang out. Ask yourself, why am I here? Just to say hello, to my aunties, uncles, nieces, nephews. After saying all your Hi's and hellos, what's next?