There is a difference between pleasure and joy. Pleasure is often temporary, is generally the result of obtaining something, and is most often motivated by selfish desires. However, joy is often the result of living and giving generously, is motivated from within, and is undoubtedly much more than mere temporary gratification because it is a feeling rewarded for actions taken to bless someone else’s life.
And ironically, this joy does not usually come from monumental, recognized, high-impact donations or actions; in fact, it’s the small, simple, and often unrecognized actions that mean the most, make the biggest difference, and produce what is often referred to as “true joy.”
Our big challenge, therefore, is not necessarily to do everything that is mentioned in the list below; rather, it is simply to do something! Whether it is one or ten items on this list, or one of the hundreds of other ideas not mentioned here, we, as individuals, families, and as a society, must rethink the self-oriented culture that we are bombarded with. daily, and do a little more to participate in the small, simple, and quiet actions that serve others and allow us to experience this “true joy.”
- Pick up trash around your local parks and churches, community buildings and areas, schools and historic sites, senior homes and hospitals, highways and paths, etc.
- Volunteer at local shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, soup kitchens, schools, etc.
- Gather clothing, food, toiletries, toys, and essentials and donate to local charity, Church, Salvation Army, or non-profit organizations that help people in developing countries.
- Organize a car wash, raffle, contest, or fundraiser to collect money that will be donated to help a local family, charity, or underprivileged in other countries.
- Have fun and organize a service scavenger hunt race. Divide everyone into groups and each group has to complete random things for the people in the community: raking leaves, mowing the lawn, shoveling the sidewalk, picking up trash, sweeping the sidewalks, etc.
- Go to a local hospital or nursing home and sing, read, put on a puppet show, make “recovery” cards, or just visit patients.
- Become a “pen pal” or “sponsor a child” from another country.
- Gather volunteers to help foster families – help them clean, babysit, or do service for these people to help them.
- Volunteer at the next Special Olympics event in your area.
- Individually, as a group, or each family member, donate some money and give it to a local family in need, a charity or non-profit organization, or a local church.
- The next time you come across someone on the street in need, begging or homeless, stop and talk to them, give them some money or buy them a meal.
- Call, email, or visit a sick friend, neighbor, or family member.
- Volunteer in an after school program to help a struggling child. Read to them, help them with homework, play with them, talk to them, laugh and tell stories, and just be their friend. Do the same with an older person.
- Collect or make blankets for children and families in need locally.
- Go and volunteer at local charities, nonprofits, Salvation Army, or churches. Support the United Way, the Red Cross, and any other organization that helps others.
- Collect stuffed animals, toys, dolls, or fun games; Clean them up and donate to a local family, church or charity.
- Volunteer at a local library or school to help illiterate children or adults.
- Regularly visit people at the local development center, blind people, people with special needs, etc.
- Run or walk in a charity with friends that raises money to help people in need.
- Helping with things around the house every day: doing housework, helping to set the table, cleaning the house / room, making the bed, vacuuming the floor, mowing the lawn, taking out the trash, etc.
- Go visit a neighbor in need and help him with yard work, cleaning the house, walks, or whatever chores you need help with.
- Gather and collect old glasses and donate them to an organization that will give them to local or non-local people in need.
- Make a card and buy a gift for a secretary from your local nonprofit organization.
- Make dinner or cookies for a new neighbor, a friend or relative, a new or pregnant mother, someone who is sick or lonely, an elderly person, or someone in need.
- Volunteer as a counselor at the next summer camp, boy scout event, church or community project, etc.
- Secretly clean the car, room, house, garden, etc. of someone
- Go and donate blood, and volunteer at your local health clinic (or fair).
- Volunteer to do office work or any other useful project for your local church or non-profit organization.
- Invite new neighbors, a local youth group, new members of your congregation, seniors, or anyone else to your home for a fun game night.
- Go to the local hospital, nursing home, or school and just spend time playing as a family with these needy people, groups, or children.