What about the rest of the year?

As is the case every year on Mandela Day, we were inundated with requests to attend various Mandela Day initiatives, leaving everyone totally exhausted and more than a little deflated.

With only a limited number of journalists available, there were only so many events we could attend, so we had to decline a number of requests. But I could not help but wonder, ‘Why wait for this specific day to want to make a difference?’

And, as I was surfing the internet, my eye caught quite a few articles on how everyone spent this day, but one quote, from the former president’s widow, Graça Machel, hit the nail on the head.

She said, “Let us not look at Mandela Day as an event that we will be part of every year, a pledge for the whole year that goes beyond one’s daily activities. Decide what is the difference I can make to people over the year so that it can become a way of being, not just an event.”

As I sat behind my desk, I came close to applauding her loudly, because that is exactly how I feel.

It is all good and well to help those in need, and attach a name to it, but what happens to them the other 364 days of the year? Are they not homeless any more? Do they stop being hungry or cold? Do they now suddenly have more than enough to carry them through to the next year’s Mandela Day?

The answer is a resounding ‘No’. Those who are in need, need assistance for every other day of the year as well. So, my suggestion is, do not follow the masses and only offer your help, compassion and empathy for one day, be different.

And, even though it is said that we cannot make a difference in everyone’s life every day, we can do something every day to make a difference in one person’s life.

Until next week …