Most people will admit that 2020 will be a year that they will never forget. The United States and the World faced what seemed like immeasurable hardships and challenges while battling the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the things that most people say they remember is the way millions of Americans came together to deal with the magnitude of the issues they were faced with. When healthcare workers needed masks, and there were none to be found, Americans from all over the country and from all walks of life came together to sew, crochet, and knit masks to help protect those who were caring for the sick. There have been and still are so many acts of kindness being performed by ordinary people every day. Eric Painter of Texas encourages more people to get involved in their communities because he believes helping people during the pandemic can benefit everyone.
There have been countless numbers of people who have experienced some kind of loss during the pandemic. Whether they’ve lost a family member, friend, home, or a job, people are often left feeling dejected and displaced. “Reaching out to help someone else, even when you feel like you are at your lowest point can help people re-establish a sense of belonging. Volunteering can reduce the grief, isolation, and loneliness people experience when they lose a valued person in their lives or their lives have been disrupted due to the loss of a job.”, Mr. Painter said.
According to an article published in Psychology Today, it is important for people to have a sense of purpose. Purpose can mean different things to different people. Purpose is best defined as living life with the intention to succeed at something that is meaningful to others and to self. “There is a certain sense of self-gratification that comes from helping others. It feels good to know that investing time in another person or a simple act can change the trajectory of another person’s life for the better. In addition to that, helping others places things in perspective, because it helps remind us all that even in our darkest days, there is always someone else out there who might be dealing with situations that are much worse.”, Eric Painter said.
The health benefits associated with helping others are definitely an added bonus according to Mr. Painter. I read an article published by the Cleveland Clinic which talked about all the health benefits that people get from helping others.
Some things mentioned included things like a reduction in the level of depression people feel, a reduction in blood pressure and stress levels and can lead to people experiencing more satisfaction and happiness in their levels of satisfaction I have certainly found this to be true in my experience. There have even been studies that have shown that helping others can even help people live longer healthier lives, which are things everyone should be on board with.”, Eric Painter of Texas said.
