So this month’s topic is “Peace through Service”. I can tell you personally that when I do service work, the whole experience is rewardinelephant loveg, unforgettable and brings a certain peace to my heart.  This got me thinking about how other people feel when they do service work, so off to Google I went, searching for the answer.  I found the majority of people feel that service is very rewarding.

“There are different types of community service work…I am a social worker by choice…it is community service work…and it has led me on many strange adventures…I love being of service to my fellow human beings. It makes my heart sing and grows my spirit in ways I would never have imagined…”

“To work in the community without getting anything in return is very rewarding and brings on blessings from on high, it also makes you feel ten feet tall when you see someone smile after you have helped them do something they could not have done themselves. There is no amount of money that you could get paid that would equal that feeling. It is pure joy”.

“I feel healthier physically, and I feel better inside knowing that I made a difference in my community”.

Michael Steger, a psychologist at the University of Louisville, KY conducted a survey of 65 undergraduates to see what made them happier; meaningful activities such as service or pleasure seeking, self-serving activities.  The results found that the individuals who did service were happier, saying service made their lives feel more purposeful.  Those who sought self serving activities, found they weren’t any happier than before the survey.

Well…. It would appear from personal experience, testimonials and surveys that service will make you happier, your life more meaningful, more rewarding and yes, more peaceful. 

This doesn’t mean it has to be “community” service.  It can be something as little as letting someone skip in front of you in the grocery line, paying someone a compliment that makes them feel better about themself, buying the person’s meal behind you in the drive-thru lane, holding the door open, picking something up that someone else dropped, a smile, listening to a stranger vent about their day, reading a story to someone, etc.  I consider service to be anything I can do to make someone else’s life a little easier, a little nicer, a little less stressful.

There are lots of places in need of service.  Even PLC needs volunteers to help! Most non-profit agencies need service volunteers or you can click on these links to search for current volunteer opportunities:  

https://www.uwci.org/volunteer

https://www.volunteermatch.org/

https://www.helpindyonline.com/

This blog post is written by Lisa Jones, PLC’s Director of Human Resources and Operations.