Does charity make you feel good?

Last Sunday I was reading the Body & Soul pull out from the paper and there was this great little piece called Fast ways to feel good. It was 5 basic points in The Wellness File by Marie Rowland http://www.talking-matters.com/talking/Profile.htm that was so common sense, though I’m sure not many of us stop to do. Being charitable is one of those things that I’ve always wanted to do more of, over the years I’ve looked into working for charities (only they didn’t pay enough), I’ve been involved with a group of friends who wanted to start up a project called Two Roads to raise money for infrastructure in Burma (Myanmar). We went so far as a business plan, consulting with World Vision and then we all got too busy and it didn’t bare fruit. When I was younger I volunteered my time at the YMCA, I have spent many years religiously donating blood (but not for the last few) and even attempted philanthropy via my son’s 1st birthday with no presents and raising over $1000 for the Red Kite Organisation. However I don’t feel I have an affiliation with any one cause. Apart from the regular drop off to the second hand stores or one off donation to emergency support like bush fire fund, there’s not much else I’m actively involved in. I have thought long and hard of what else I could do to help the world, including helping out with look good feel better organisation, getting involved in a charity run or getting involved in a mentoring program. standards.gif"> Lets face it wouldn’t we all like to be as generous as Bill Gates, who can’t work much these days because he’s too busy running his philanthropy activities, or New National Broadbank Network CEO Mike Quigley who has donated his $2 million first-year salary to stroke research, after recovering from leukaemia in the early 1990s

When it comes down to it Marie Rowland recommends “Even the smallest of acts, such as offering your seat on a bus can bring an unexpected feeling of pleasure. Helping others helps us feel worthy”

What charitable deed could you do today?