My Experience in Donating Blood

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The search for meaning is the central quest of human life. As life continues, meaning becomes a vital question and numerous times I was faced with this question with poignancy. I soon realized that not understanding the meaning of my life, may find its end in wasting time on trivialities. Harvard psychologist Robert Kegan stated that our personal development is largely in terms of our search for meaning.

One way that enabled me to find the meaning of life is by telling me that I must live for others. This is the belief that would give substance to my life. At this moment Mother Theresa life and her dedication to the poor came to my mind and the insight that how meaningless my life was. The saying that a meaningful life is not the fruit of cleverness or shrewd calculations was always uppermost in my mind. This introspection allowed me to discover the goodness that I am capable of. The question is what can I do to contribute my goodwill to others?

Spending thought on this subject enabled me to become sentient of the gift of life. The supreme reward-do a good deed without expecting anything in return. I realized that everything I have i.e. health, talents, intellect etc are all gifts and I did not have to pay for them. The only requirement was to share these gifts with those who needed them the most. And whatever I do, it needed to be performed with the best of my intentions thus enabling me to attain self respect and responsibility.

The question to be asked is what is the most valuable life giving or life saving part in our human body which runs from head to toe and by which I could help my fellow beings? It is BLOOD. Soon I discovered that donating blood which is the living fluid that all life is based on would be a noble deed. The time taken by a patient's body to replace blood could cost him/her life. Blood cannot be harvested, it can only be donated. Saving a life does not require heroic deeds. This can be accomplished by giving it a thought and saying ``Yes'' as I did.

Having decided on donating blood, I proceeded, but at the same time the feeling of weakness, pain and intimidation began to skulk within me. Overcoming the fear of needles was a challenge for me. The thought of a piercing needle through my skin crippled me and also prevented me from haulage out this good deed. Soon I realized that the biggest obstacle is admitting to my fear of needles. Fear is one of our most commonly experienced emotions. This fear can cripple as well as prevent me from doing well and can also lead to belligerence. This fear of mine is a learnt one and it was up to me to unlearn it and this is the secret of facing fear i.e. managing fear and overcoming it. The comportment to overcome fear is by doing what I am most sacred of, by thinking of the positive effect i.e. saving some person's life in this impersonal gesture.

Then I reminded myself that an ounce of practice is better than a ton of theory. One loving deed is worth more than a thousand books and clever words and lofty notions will never make me any better. Many things lie ahead for me. The right key to a resplendent future for me was to live every moment with awareness.

A scene flashed in my mind: I am standing at a roadside. In a split second a car and motorbike collide head on. Pillion rider is thrown off and falls on his head and starts to bleed profusely. He is rushed to a hospital, within eyesight. Out of curiosity I follow. The medics rush to put him on life saving apparatus. Surgery is required and BLOOD needed. Here I am a mute witness because of fear. ``Go forward, donate blood. you may save that life! Says a little voice inside me, but I am rooted to where I am standing, unable to move. A doctor rushes out ``any volunteers to donate blood, we are running short of time?''

A bystander like me moves forward as a volunteer. Again the little voice, ``be brave, someone needs blood. go donate.'' Then I stride forward: ``Doctor, I would like to donate blood if it is to save a life.'' Fear totally vanishes. A feeling of reaching out to a dying person overcomes me.

After this good deed I go out into the sunshine-a new ME-no more fear of needles, pain, weakness etc. My whole outlook on life changes dramatically, opens up new avenues for me to pursue with a new found confidence and a willingness to go forward and face new challenges. Often everyone keeps searching for the secret for happiness. Is happiness within our reach, or is it a child's dream which grown-ups replace with cynicism? What is the art of happiness? I found the answer for happiness, through this fine accomplishment of mine i.e. donating blood. Now I feel I am prepared to face life with a positive attitude as well as to pursue all avenues, avenues that would enable me to always assist people.

To conclude, I have learnt that if I want to be happy I need to love, if I want to be liked I need to be cheerful, if I want courage and self-respect I need to follow my conscience and if I want to enjoy life I always need to do something worthwhile with my life which involves always helping others as well.