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Helping Others Helps You.
I love to volunteer and get involved in community efforts. But I must admit it has been a while.
We can become overwhelmed with our constant efforts to make it that we forget others out here don’t have a 1/4 of what we have. This includes family support, friends, and love.
Helping others can take you from a place of self-pity and loathing to a state of gratitude and abundance. I know it gets rough, and some may feel they have nothing to give.
Take another look at the photo above. This man is holding a sign that says “Seeking Human Kindness.” His head is slightly tilted, and he wonders if the beholder even knows what that looks like.
He’s not asking for money, food, or the clothes off your back. A smile, light conversation, a hug. For some people, being treated as human is enough.
There is scientific data that proves giving back to others has a positive impact on our mental health and well-being. It can reduce stress while giving you a sense of purpose.
I recall working in my sister’s local food pantry; a nicely dressed man came in. He looked like he was dressed for a corporate job. He was also carrying a cross-over briefcase of some sort. I expected he was selling something, but he said no, “I’ve come to volunteer.”
