How Much Happiness Do You Want?
June 9, 2008 1:23 pm Claiming your joy, Happiness, Life choices, helping others, key to happiness
“If you want happiness for an hour — take a nap. If you want happiness for a day — go fishing. If you want happiness for a month — get married. If you want happiness for a year — inherit a fortune. If you want happiness for a lifetime — help someone else.”
- Chinese Proverb
According to this Chinese proverb lasting happiness comes from helping someone else. If you are interested in lifelong happiness here are some ways to help others:
Clean out your closet and donate to a local charity.In my neighborhood we get requests from charities frequently. They leave a plastic bag for your donations listing the type of items they need. I donate my casual clothes to the majority of the charities.
My suits and professional clothes can be used by charities helping women who are trying to get back on their feet such as DressforSuccess.org.
Donate time to help serve the homeless, senior citizens, or others in your community.
There are many opportunities in my town, especially around the holidays. But these charities also need help year round. To help with their year-round needs, respond to their appeals for financial donations throughout the year.
Some ways to help others:
- volunteer at hospitals hugging ill or abandoned newborns
- take volunteer vacations
- help build homes for low-income or survivors of catastrophes
- or find another volunteer opportunity at Volunteer Match
Donate money to charities that allow you to pick the recipients.
- Modest Needs helps stop the cycle of poverty before it starts for low-income people
- Donors Choose allows you donate to the proposal of your choice submitted by a teacher
These are, of course, just a few of the unlimited chances to help others. A search on your computer or in your community will yield many more from which you may choose. Get started on your lifetime of happiness by helping someone else.
Lance :
Date: June 10, 2008 @ 6:24 am
I love the last part of the quote - If you want happiness for a lifetime, help someone else. That is so true. It can be easy getting caught up in — I’ll be happy when I get a new car, or get a raise, or have kids, or … But the truth is, you’ll be happiest when you are helping others - in the moment. Not later, but now.
Thanks for sharing this!
coloryou :
Date: June 12, 2008 @ 8:59 pm
Lance,
You’re welcome. You’re absolutely right too that helping others now is what matters.
Thanks for visiting and commenting.
Thorsten Bonn :
Date: July 4, 2008 @ 2:30 pm
I deeply enjoyed the spirit of this post. From my own experience, gratitude and charity are instant and lasting ways to uplift and improve your life.
thank you for sharing.
coloryou :
Date: July 5, 2008 @ 2:04 pm
@Thorsten
It’s my pleasure to share the power of gratitude and charity in our lives.
I hope you’ll stop by frequently.