"It is one of the beautiful compensations of this life that no one can sincerely try to help another without helping himself."

--Charles Dudley Warner

Giving to others, especially the giving of time, is one of the most honorable things we can do in life. It can also be one of our greatest sources of pleasure.  Some of us are too caught up in our struggle to obtain more and more for ourselves to worry much about the needs of others.  But some people spend their entire lives giving of themselves in an effort to help those around them. Some even believe that our main purpose in life is to help others and, by so doing, make the world a better place. 

There is no shortage of opportunity to give both money and time for the benefit of others.  In fact, most of us are asked, on a regular basis, to make contributions to worthy causes.  Some of us respond generously to requests for financial giving, but don't feel we can afford to give our time to others. But often the giving of time is so much more beneficial, for both the receiver and the giver, than the giving of money.

Charles Lamb wrote, "The greatest pleasure I know is to do a good action by stealth, and to have it found out by accident." It is important that we make sure our motive for helping others is not just a desire to receive recognition for doing a good deed.  Thomas Fuller, M.D. drove this point home when he said, "He that gives to be seen would never relieve a man in the dark." How many of us are willing to give just for the sake of giving, and don't mind whether or not we get credit for our good deeds?  How many of us get pleasure from secretly doing things for others? There are many anonymous givers of both time and money.  These people are dedicated to helping others, and they do not need the reward of recognition to receive pleasure from their acts.  Surely we must all admire such people.

Many of us are willing to give when asked, but rarely initiate  the act of giving on our own.  Kahlil Gibran wrote, "It is well to give when asked, but it is better to give unasked, through understanding." Many people in need of help never ask for it.  Unless we recognize the need, and act on our own, such people may never receive the help they need. In the words of Edgar Watson Howe, "If a friend is in trouble, don't annoy him by asking if there is anything you can do.  Think up something appropriate and do it." Is there any of us who cannot think of people who need, and would appreciate, our help whether given anonymously or otherwise? Isn't it possible that many of us could increase our own happiness by doing things to make other people happy?

NOTE:  I am now posting these essays, daily, on Thinking Your Way To A Better Life, a Facebook page that I manage:   You are invited to visit the site at:

https://www.facebook.com/ironwoodas?ref=profile

and participate in the community. 

Thank You!

Allen