Global warming. Worldwide oil and food price hikes. Inflation. Water shortage. Severe climate changes. Increased poverty. These are just some of the problems our world is facing today. Indeed, with all the global economic, political, social and environmental crises, life has become harder than ever, and more and more people are struggling just to survive, which is also why there has never been a better time to stretch out a helping hand.
Why Help?
Of course, you might be asking yourself: Why should I consider helping others? After all, you, too, might be going through some tough times. Still, there are several reasons why many people go on helping others, and why you, too, might want to consider lending a helping hand.
For one, helping others can allow you to make new acquaintances, possibly even new friends who might also be able to help you out someday when it’s your turn to be in need. Even if they won’t be able to repay you, you’re bound to be rewarded in one way or another as you go along. After all, what goes around comes around, or so the Karmic law states.
Helping others enables you to share your good fortune with others, too, so you won’t be seen as greedy and so you can make good use of your resources.
Most importantly, helping others can leave you with a feeling of peace and fulfillment, even happiness, just by knowing that you’ve made at least one more person’s life a bit better. For those who keep on helping others, this is the greatest reward of all.
Donate in Kind
Next, you might ask yourself: But how do I lend a helping hand? There are, of course, many ways in order to help others. However, there are three main ways of helping.
The first main way you can help is by making donations in kind or in property. This simply means giving away the things you don’t need to other people who need them or can make better use of them. For example, you can give away your old clothes to the homeless shelter instead of piling them up at the back of your closet, or give away the children’s books and toys which your kids have outgrown to your local orphanage. You can even just simply give the excess food you have to a less fortunate neighbor, which is better than dumping it in the trash bin.
Put Your Money Where it Matters
If you don’t have old stuff to give away, you can also just help by making donations in cash. In fact, this may even be easier for you since most charitable organizations accept cash. As a bonus, it’s easier to get a tax deduction for cash donations, too, compared to property donations which usually require either a personal or professional assessment of the value of the property.
You don’t have to donate a huge amount of cash to lend a helping hand, either. Rather, any amount you give can go a long way in helping others.
Share Your Time and Skills
The third main way of helping others is by sharing your skills and your free time, particularly by being a volunteer. This can be the most fulfilling way of helping others, too, since you are truly sharing a part of yourself, instead of just what you have.
It isn’t hard to be a volunteer, either. In fact, it is simply a matter of looking for the perfect volunteer opportunity by considering what skills you have, the amount of time you can spare, and most importantly, your passion. For example, if you like children, you can volunteer at your local orphanage, or if you’re good at dealing with elderly people, you can help out at a nearby nursing home.
Of course, you can simply volunteer around your neighborhood, like doing the gardening for an elderly couple or walking the dog for a sick neighbor.
Every Little Act Helps
Indeed, no act of helping is too great or too small. It doesn’t even matter how many people you help or who you’re helping. What is important is that you do help others and hopefully, they, in turn, will be inspired to help other people, too, so that the world can still be a nice place to live in no matter how tough times get.
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