Give back

You are not God.  Whether or not you believe in any deity, one thing you can be sure of is that it is not you.  If for some reason you are a god, you may now stop reading.  There is a reason that in Alcoholics Anonymous it is required that you believe in some higher power.  Dr. Bob was smart enough to know that you have to believe in something bigger than yourself in order to be healthy.

One of the best ways to express and understanding that you are connected to something greater than yourself is to give something of yourself, expecting nothing in return.  Donating blood, donating money, donating time, all remind you that there are others out there.

I donate blood every 8 weeks.  I really don't like needles, and I hate the idea of a needle stuck in my arm, but people need that blood more than I do.  I donate time at the local food bank.  I bag groceries, run errands, do computer work, and serve food for their hot lunch program.  There are other things that I would much rather be doing with my time, but those people need my time more than I do.  It is a very sobering experience every time I'm there to see the number of people in my town who don't have enough money to buy food to eat.  Isn't that more important than whatever else I might be doing?

I have a theory that the reason that teenagers have so much angst is that a teenager views himself as the center of the universe.  This is not a criticism of teens, its just part of growing up.  Teenagers are, by nature, extremely selfish.  And, not coincidentally, they are usually not terribly happy.  Life makes a lot more sense when you realize that there is something out there bigger than you.

Of course it's easier to sit at home and watch tv.  Of course its more fun to spend the money on a new pair of shoes.  But as with all things in life, the right choice is the hard choice.

So give back something of yourself.  Donate what you can afford, even if it is just some of your time.  Consider missing one of your favorite shows each week to volunteer on a food line.  Organize charitable giving at school.  Do something to acknowledge that there is something bigger than you out there.  You'll find that it feels pretty good.