The Act of Giving and the Unexpected Return on Investment

So on Friday, I started volunteering at the Boys & Girls Club down the street from where I live. And I realized something - I am SO much happier when I'm doing something that improves or impacts another's life. Who.Would.Have.Thought!

More of us need to volunteer and do things for others instead of ourselves - whether it be a time-commitment/regular thing or just an everyday average selfless act - because by doing so we can help one another live longer, healthier, happier lives with more social interaction.

It's so easy these days to live in our 'own worlds' and constantly focus on ourselves, and perhaps one or two others that really matter/we see every day. But if we stop and reach out to other people, whether it's co-workers or strangers or family or old friends or lost tourists, it's so powerful to see those effects on people and ultimately ourselves.

When I started volunteering that Friday afternoon, I was so excited to start making a difference. But once I met all the kids and there was about 100 of them running around like crazy nutcases with serious attitude problems, I began to doubt my choice. Then I met two pre-teen girls - Danae and Victoria. They were the epitome of 'best friends' - they lived in the same apartment building since they were young and had been going to the same school since kindergarten. Now they were 11 year olds, and they were so friendly to me and supportive of my being there as an older, non-familiar volunteer, that I started to think - wow, I thought I would be affecting positive change and here they are making me feel at home and welcome and secure and loved. Not to say that I think I didn't have some impact on them - I told them this was my first day and I would be there every Friday and perhaps host impromptu dance classes since that's what I like/am good at, and they were very excited since they loved to dance too - but I didn't think I would also be as affected as I was.

Funny how life works that way - you make plans and expect certain outcomes, and then life throws you a curve ball and you get something completely unexpected. I love that :)