There is a difference between pleasure and joy. Pleasure is often temporary, usually the result of getting something, and often motivated by selfish desires. However, joy most often comes as a result of selfless living and giving, it is motivated from within, and it is certainly much more than just temporary gratification because it is a feeling rewarded for actions taken to bless another person’s life.
And ironically, this joy does not usually come from monumental, recognized and massively impactful donations or actions; in fact, it’s the small, simple and often unrecognized actions that mean the most, make the biggest difference and bring what is often called ‘true joy’.
Our big challenge, therefore, is not necessarily to do everything listed below; rather, it is simply doing 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 reconsider the self-oriented culture with which we are. bombarded daily, and make a change. 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, buildings and community areas, schools and historical sites, nursing homes and hospitals, highways and roads, etc.
- Volunteer at local shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, soup kitchens, schools, etc.
- Gather clothing, food, toiletries, toys and necessities and donate to your local charity, Church, Salvation Army or non-profit organizations that help developing countries.
- Host a car wash, raffle, contest, or fundraiser to raise money that will be donated to help a local family, charity, or disadvantaged people in other countries.
- Have fun and organize a service scavenger hunt race. Divide everyone into groups and each group has to do random things for people in the community: rake leaves, mow grass, shovel sidewalks, pick up trash, sweep sidewalks, etc.
- Go to a local hospital or nursing home and sing, read, put on a puppet show, make get well 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 a service for these people to help them.
- Volunteer at the next Special Olympics event in your area.
- Individually, as a group, or each person in the family, 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 who is needy, begging, or homeless, stop and talk to them, give them some money, or buy them food.
- Call, email, or visit a sick friend, neighbor, or relative.
- 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 them stories, and 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 your local charities, non-profits, Salvation Army or Churches. Support the United Way, Red Cross, and any other organization that helps others.
- Gather stuffed animals, toys, dolls, or fun games; Clean them up and donate them to a family, church, or local charity.
- Volunteer at a local library or school to help illiterate children or adults.
- Regularly visit people at the local development center, the blind, people with special needs, etc.
- Run or walk with friends at a charity that raises money to help people in need.
- Help with daily things around the house: do housework, help set the table, clean the house/room, make the bed, vacuum the floor, mow the lawn, take out the garbage, etc.
- Visit a neighbor in need and help out with yard work, house cleaning, wrinkling, or whatever chore they 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 at 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.
- Offer to counsel at the next summer camp, boy scout event, community or church project, etc.
- Secretly cleaning the car, room, house, yard, etc. of someone.
- Go 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 people, groups or children in need.