Joy

I love the word, “joy.” It is mostly used as a noun meaning great pleasure or happiness. It can also be used as a verb meaning to rejoice. Regardless of how it is used, it makes me think of good things and fun times.

This past week, a friend and I were discussing the perils of all the people suffering from the recent hurricane. We agreed that what most of us are missing right now is joy in our lives. Yes, many folks are back to a relatively normal life, but there are still several people living in shelters, hotels or homes of friends and family. They are not thinking about joy. They are thinking of surviving. So what is the connection?

Well, I have found that helping others brings great joy to those giving it as much, if not more, than those receiving it. When I first moved to this area, I volunteered at a free clinic located in the urban part of our community. It was a fabulous way for me to give back to the health care field after being in it for thirty years. It also allowed me to meet so many great colleagues who have become close friends. I was able to spend a couple of days a week doing this until my Parkinson’s made it too difficult. I was sad to give this up, but vowed to find other ways to help those in need. You see what I learned from any volunteering I have done throughout my life is when I give of my time and effort, I am the one who benefits the most. I feel joy.

So where do you go to find opportunities to volunteer? When I was a young girl, I helped out at organizations that I knew needed volunteers, such as Salvation Army and the local humane society. I also found my church and youth groups always have mission projects that need assistance. Professional groups in medicine provide many outreach efforts, locally, nationally and internationally. For example, the American Public Health Association lists various volunteering activities on its website, www.apha.org, for all types of health professionals.

In our local area, there is no shortage of opportunities to lend a hand. There are fundraisers, clothing drives and school supply collections happening in the next several weeks for hurricane recovery. The newspapers are a good source for neighborhood events and ongoing efforts. And, of course, I find word-of-mouth to be most useful for helping individuals and families in your nearby community. Providing a home cooked meal or a bag of groceries may just be the boost to people who are too busy cleaning up and repairing things to prepare meals. A simple act that could mean so much. Helping others will clearly bring comfort to them and bring joy to you. Go for it!