Want to be Happier? Extend Yourself
July 30, 2008 Happiness, Life choices, helping others, key to happiness, volunteering No Comments
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Being happy starts within and radiates outward. To extend your happiness, extend yourself.
That’s what Barbara Trimble did when she was consulting
with nursing homes. She noticed that some of the residents neither wanted to or needed to be there, but there didn’t
seem possible for them to stay at home. She decided that there must be an alternative.
She engaged in six months of research including conversations with the elders and their children. From her research three themes emerged:
- People want to live at home as they age.
- Elders want a full array of services and access to support around the clock.
- Families want to work with a single organization coordinating all planning and care.
With this information in hand Barbara created an organization, Extended Family, an alternative to nursing homes. With her personal care assistants and good neighbors, Barbara says she has redefined aging one member at a time.
If you want to be happier, extend yourself in your community. There are many charities, organizations and churches eager to welcome volunteers to help with their goals. Find the ones that suit you and get involved. The best part of extending yourself to help others is it feels good and makes you happier too.
