Helping out a fellow human being in their time of need can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding things a person can do. Yet while the number of people who need assistance in one form or another seems to always be increasing, the number of people willing to provide assistance appears to be decreasing.
Or maybe it's just that we don't champion 'helping each other' like we should.
Which is a great shame because helping a fellow human being has great benefits for the helper, the person being helped and for society in general.
It makes you feel good about yourself, it connects you with other people in really nice ways, it improves another person's life in some way, it helps make the world a kinder, nicer place and if that kindness is passed on it can grow into something really powerful.
So what can you do to help someone else today?
The answer is lots of things and below is a list of some of them.
1 - Smile and be friendly. Sometimes a simple little thing like this can put a smile and warm feeling in someone else's heart.
2 - Call a charity to volunteer. It can be whatever charity you like. Volunteering is one of the most amazing things you can do.
3 - Donate something you don't use. Or a whole box of somethings. Drop them off at a charity — others can put your clutter to good use.
4 - Redirect gifts. Instead of having people give you birthday or Christmas gifts, ask them to donate gifts or money to a certain charity.
5 - Stop to help. The next time you see someone pulled over with a flat tyre, or somehow in need of help, stop and ask how you can help.
6 - Teach. Take the time to teach someone a skill you know. This could be teaching your grandma to use email or teaching your child to ride a bike.
7 - Comfort someone in grief. Often a hug, a helpful hand, a kind word, a listening ear, will go a long way.
8 - Help someone take action. If someone in grief seems to be lost and doesn't know what to do, help them do something. It could be making funeral arrangements, it could be making phone calls. Don't do it all yourself — let them take action too, because it helps in the healing process.
9 - Buy food for a homeless person. Cash is often a bad idea if it's going to be used for drugs, but buying a sandwich and chips or something like that is a good gesture.
10 - Lend your ear. Often someone who is sad, depressed, angry, or frustrated just needs someone who will listen.
11 - Help someone get active. A person in your life who wants to get healthy might need a helping hand — offer to go walking or running together.
12 - Write someone a letter. In this day of email, texting and Facebook, taking the time to write someone a letter to say how much you appreciate them or to thank them for something can be very powerful.
13 - how appreciation, publicly. Praising someone on a blog, in front of coworkers, in front of family, or in some other public way, is a great way to make them feel better about themselves.
14 - Donate food. Clean out your cupboard of canned goods, or buy some and donate them to a homeless shelter.
15 - Just be there. When someone you know is in need, sometimes it's just good to be there. Sit with them. Talk. Help out if you can.
16 - Be patient. Sometimes people can have difficulty understanding things, or learning to do something right. Learn to be patient with them.
17 - Create a care package. Soup, reading material, tea, chocolate … anything you think the person might need or enjoy. Good for someone who is sick or otherwise in need of a pick-me-up.
18 - Lend your voice. Often the powerless, the homeless, the neglected in our world need someone to speak up for them.
19 - Offer to babysit. Sometimes parents need a break. If a friend or other loved one in your life doesn't get that chance very often, call them and offer to babysit sometime.
20 - A hug, a kind word, spending time, showing little kindnesses, being friendly … it all matters more than you know.
Source: Zen Habits