183 Pembrooke close.

183 Pembrooke close!

183- Pembrooke- close.

Greetings everyone. My name is Ore and no matter how many times I say it, 183 Pembrooke close probably holds no significance to you what so ever.

But to me,that little house means a lot. It may not have been the prettiest to look at and the noisy freight trains that frequented the area would always conveniently appear when your favorite TV show was on…but it was home. No matter were you are from, or how many houses you’ve lived in, in the past. You only every have one true home.

For me that home is a dark gray house on a street that always held one hockey game or another. Ice ream trucks would cruise by on warm summer days, and you could see fireworks from your backyard on warm summer nights. Its been years since I’ve lived there, but something always brings me back to 183 Pembrooke close. Maybe a silly little whim or pangs of nostalgia,but every so often I return to the house that built me and can almost taste a semi melted strawberry pop, or hear the far away bellows of effulgent fireworks.

When I look back at those faithful memories I think of all of the things that wouldn’t be available to me if people hadn’t given back to the community. Whether it was the bountiful number of parks in the area or clean lawns and trimmed grass, my childhood and therefore so on would not have been the same if it weren’t for the thoughtfulness for others.

Sometimes exhibiting thoughtfulness isn’t always easy. Sometimes it seems like the world is always looking out for número uno. But sometimes when you put thoughts of yourself to the side, for just a while and give back to the community not only do you benefit but so do others. In the wise words of John F. Kennedy.“Ask not what your country can do for you— ask what can you do for your country”

This summer was my first summer volunteering. To be honest, I thought it would be pretty dull. But working every day as “Rainbow” at leisure center day camps did not fail to bring a smile to my face. I was so proud. Slight or not, I was making a difference in my community. Anabel, one of the six year old’s in art smarts came up to me one day and handed me a carefully folded piece of paper. On it said Rainbow you are a nice girl! Girl spelled…g-u-r-l. Up until today I still keep that little token because spelling mistake or not, it reminds me that by volunteering I made an impact in someones life. I gave back.

The Oxford dictionary’s definition of giving is presenting voluntarily without expecting compensation. But is it really that easy? Can the heart beat of the world really be scrawled on paper and defined? So…then…can I just give my sister a cold. She doesn’t have to give me anything in return. OK…fine…giving doesn’t work like that. But how does it work then you ask? Is it funds bestowed onto the poorest of the poor by wealthy curmudgeons who want nothing but to glorify their own pristine image? Is it forced community service by that kid across the street who could honestly care less. NO it’s not! True genuine giving comes from the heart.

A famous quote by Mother Theresa says “Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough,money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So spread your love everywhere you go.” Someone who I believe lives by these words is Ex. Prima Ballerina Penelope Thloloe. She may not be a household name, but she’s me role model and in my eyes… she is a community builder. After reaching the peak of her dancing career this queen of ballet decided to give it all up. She traveled back to Johannesburg’s Alexandria township, back to her humble beginnings in South Africa so she could teach young girls the art of ballet. In her own words she said “ My hope and dreams for my children is that they will not have limits when It comes to choosing their own careers but, because they have been exposed to opportunities. They will be able to achieve what they would like to achieve in life.”

By giving back to the community in such a selfless way Penelope Thloloe is shaping a whole new generation of successful aspiring individuals. Whether they dream of ballet shoes or stethoscopes. Whether they dream of paintbrushes or… airplanes, because of one woman they can shoot for the stars.

Giving is love! Giving is progress. It is necessary to give back to the community because maybe someone needs that extra bit of love so they can achieve the unachievable. A wise woman once said spread your love everywhere you go.

Everywhere… you go?

The world just hit 7 billion people. That’s a lot of mouths that need food… hearts that need love. So give. Not a cold but your heart. A little girl twirls in worn ballet shoes. She falls but gets back up again. Across the globe, another little girl sits on a chipped the railing watching fireworks from the backyard of 183 Pembrooke close.