by Nick Bidic

Why Volunteering is Goodfor Your Health?

Have you ever gone out ofyour way to help someone

and unexpectedly feltgreat about it?

It may seem counter-intuitiveto spend time helping others

when we need to do things forourselves, like catch up onhousework or rest at home

with a cold.

Yet, volunteering offersnumerous benefits that dous good while we are doing

good to others.

We focus less onour troubles.

It’s easy to sit at home and feelsorry for ourselves when things gowrong. We can shut out the worldand be miserable in the privacy of

home, which tends to feed ournegative feelings and insecurities.

But when we use that time toreach out and help others who are

hurting or in need, we have lesstime to sulk or dissolve in self-

pity. In fact, seeing others in needcan make us feel ashamed if we

have more than they do.

We feelappreciated.

Lending a helping hand tosomeone in need and

watching their face lightup with joy is one of the

best feelings in the world.

We regain a sense of self-worth and a feeling of

accomplishment.

No longer do we feeluseless and unvalued.

Another person’s smile orwords of thanks can dowonders for our psyche.

We are energized.

Moving around to assistothers by giving them a

ride or handing out food atthe local soup kitchen

keeps us busy and active.

The human body isdesigned to move aroundand use all its parts for a

variety of purposes.

Instead of curling up in a fetalposition at home to cry

ourselves to sleep, that energyis much better utilized doing

positive things to improve lifefor those who need it.

We learn newthings.

Being around other people,especially those in

different levels of society,is an eye-opening

experience.

Taking a blind person to adoctor’s appointment or

teaching a special needs childto read at school presentschallenges that help us to

develop needed skills.

Experiences like these alsohelp us to gain better

understanding of the world atlarge and each person’s place

in it.

We also begin to betterunderstand our own

capabilities and perhapsdevelop new interests as a

result.

Volunteering is a wonderfulway to make an impact in thelocal community. It also helpsus to grow as individuals andsee the world from a different

perspective.

All in all, becoming a volunteeris a valuable use of time and

talent.