Helping others is strongly linked to the human essence. Science and different disciplines have proven that this activity benefits those who carry it out perhaps even more than those who receive help. Our brain chemistry, emotional and mental well-being are drastically improved when we take actions to help others. There are organizations that help veterans, but we can also extend our social services to help them.
The value of helping others
The value of helping others is immeasurable as it connects us with God and with the noblest feelings of human beings. Actions to help others make us grow in empathy, in love for our neighbor, and wisdom. They allow us to value the blessings that have been bestowed upon us and to recognize perfection in God’s times. Maybe you have ever wanted to help, and it did not work out as you expected. You can join hands with organizations that help veterans—assisting people requires an awake and humble conscience to listen and learn. From our capacities and virtues, with great respect, we will help others according to their needs and requests. Well, it is not about satisfying our ego, but about meeting the need for a veteran who has served you for half of his life or more.
Here are 10 actions to help veterans:
- Volunteer your time and listen to someone who needs to talk about their experience or problem. Do it without judging, without monopolizing the conversation at a platform of organizations that help veterans.
- A plant in need of water, a lost puppy, a lonely older man, an overwhelmed colleague, or a person in distress may need your help. Come over and say hello. See if it is appropriate and ask a veteran to give a ride or do the grocery.
- At home, there are always actions to help others. Spend a few hours doing tasks that others postpone, making life easier for everyone in your home or supporting a veteran.
- Your smile is always a great help to others. It seeks to spread enthusiasm and love to live, even if he is a stranger; seeing you smile will make them smile too. You can collaborate with organizations that help veterans.
- You will also have received help at another time; never forget who reached out to you and be attentive to any need they may have.
- Congratulate or acknowledge the good in each person, especially veterans. You have no idea of each person’s work in their activities; if someone has cooked well, tell them if they have done their job well if they look good, if you have seen them go the extra mile, acknowledge it and encourage them.
- Be nice to everyone and assist the organizations that help veterans. A gesture, the slightest action to help others, and everything adds to social well-being that benefits us all.
- Be generous to veterans around you as they have lived a hard life, from paying for the coffee of a veteran, offering to clothing to those who do not have it, or making donations to organizations that help veterans
- You don’t need to go to a temple or say a prayer from memory. Just come into your room. God listens in the depths of your heart. Ask for everyone, for the needs of each person, even those of your enemies.
Identify what you are so good at that you can offer it as a service to the community. For example, teaching math, talking with the elderly, preparing food, spending time with children, sweeping a street or cleaning a beach, sewing clothes for the homeless, volunteering, or donating money to organizations that help veterans. You can be helpful by listening to their stories and offering acknowledgment when you meet veterans.