Because you want to do it

I have experienced sometimes the feeling you get when you do something without expecting anything. You might do this for someone or just for your own self. But the criterion is that you should not expect anything afterwards. I am not sure if I have given an apt introduction to the things I am going to mention, but I found these to belong to this category.

Like in the last term, I participated in a competition and made a presentation for it. I spent a lot of time on it and was quite happy with my analysis. After the submission, somebody told me how easy the analysis was and the answer was pretty obvious. My answer was different from theirs and the reason was probably that I overanalyzed the situation. I was obviously not shortlisted for the next round. But what I realized was that it did not matter. Whatever I did had provided me enough enjoyment that what happens next did not matter.

Similarly, I was getting bored one weekend. There was some talk about a presentation that we had to make. Though it had to be made in a group, I thought of starting making the presentation without telling my group. I spent a good amount of time on it and by the time our group was supposed to meet for the presentation, it was already done. As I was making the presentation, people from other groups decided that they should take the benefit of doubt and not make it. Next day they were planning to portray themselves innocent of not knowing that something like that had to be done. I got to know but did not want to stop. The making was worth the effort and it was of little consequence whether it had to be done or not. It took some creativity from my side, something which I feel I lack. We made the presentation the next day, but it was more of an icing on the cake.

Similarly, I did a few small things for one or two people and it felt like I was doing it for myself. So there was no question of wanting anything back.

Finally, there is a poem which I read recently 'Of Friends I've Had' and liked. You might like it as well. Its from a blog; just scroll down towards the end of the post.