The Transformative Power of a Trip to the Orphanage

I was the firstborn of my family and evidently it has its benefits and shortcomings. In
the early years of my childhood, I lived lavishly and was extensively pampered by my
parents. I was overindulged by my parents and they fulfilled my each and every whims and
bought everything I wished for. These surroundings have the obvious effect on my persona
and as a direct consequence, I became extremely avaricious and my desire for more exciting
and extravagant objects had grown exponentially. Overindulgence of my parents has its
understandable consequences on my characteristics and I had not learnt a single aspect about
compromise and sacrifice. To be entirely honest with myself, I was not willing to
compromise or sacrifice about anything. Fortunately, my perspective about the state of affairs
of daily life has been changed and from my present point of view, I can singularly point out a
specific experience which is responsible for the betterment of my own-self. This specific
experience was a trip to the orphanage. My parents had planned this trip while I was spending
my fourth summer vacation opulently. They wanted to convey a message about the reality of
life and wanted me to understand that life is not as giving and forgiving like my parents. The
lesson was that my parents will not be around my whole life and I have to earn every single
bit of profligate activities. The visit to the orphanage has changed my perspective and I was
rocked to my core when I saw children at my age lying without mattress or playing in the
afternoon sun. They did not have any toys or games for entertainment which was an alien
circumstances to me. As far back as I remember, in my childhood, I did not spent a single day
of conscious life without a toy. I was amazed to realise that they were genuinely happy and
accepted me with open arms in their games without any conditions. All of them has to share a
room and they had the bare necessities required in their possession yet they were grateful for
everything they had. This experience has turned my world upside down and I was at ‘sixes
and sevens’. Looking at the children, I realized that how lucky and privileged I am to have
my parents. I made myself a vow that day not to take anything for granted. However, this