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Rallying For Big Changes
How Volunteering and Community Service Can Make You Happier
I was on a plane recently and I sat next to a very empowered teenager who told me he was helping a group of people avoid eviction here in the Bay Area.
The children created a project at school and apparently, they succeeded in giving these folks one more year at their residences before they get evicted next year. He said it made him so happy to be able to make a difference in the lives of these folks. I was astounded at this committed and community service-oriented teen. He was a lot older than his years and up to big things in his life.
I took a quick review of my own life. I have been the happiest in my life when I was also helping other people. I have been the most miserable when I was in a silo focused on myself.
We all want to be connected to something great which makes a difference for others. The time I spent volunteering at the AIDS/HIV Nightline really shifted my perspective on life. I used to answer calls late into the evening and help people who were dealing with being newly diagnosed. I did have one suicide attempt while on the phone with a caller. It was very hard to deal with. After that call, I decided to stop my service there, as I realized there were better people than me, who could handle these types of…
