Have you ever noticed that social gatherings tend to center around food? Craving some friend-time? "Dinner date!" It's so-and-so's birthday? "Let's do lunch!" It's Valentine's Day? "Dessert's on me!"
In a society in which socializing is tied so heavily to food, it's no wonder we expect grub to be first on the guest list at every get-together.
But what if, instead of scheduling dinner with friends, you took a different approach-one that'll fill you with "warm and fuzzies" instead of with food? What if instead of chowing down together, you and your pals got busy pumping up your feel-good muscles by doing some volunteer work together?
Instead of helping yourselves to another dish, head to a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter and help dish out food to those who really need it. Rather get your hands dirty? Donate some time to building homes for those in need with Habitat for Humanity. Love animals? What about getting some exercise in by volunteering to walk some of the dogs at a local shelter on a lazy weekend? Speaking of exercise, find a local 5k race for a cause you like, and run, walk or volunteer at it together!
The great thing about giving back is that there will always be a need. And whether you want to commit to volunteering every single day or just on the occasional Saturday, you can!
Volunteering is a fulfilling way to bond with friends, and it's a gift from the heart that's good for the heart. So get going giving back! It'll be a great deviation from the usual dinner out (not to mention a whole lot better for you!)
In a society in which socializing is tied so heavily to food, it's no wonder we expect grub to be first on the guest list at every get-together.
But what if, instead of scheduling dinner with friends, you took a different approach-one that'll fill you with "warm and fuzzies" instead of with food? What if instead of chowing down together, you and your pals got busy pumping up your feel-good muscles by doing some volunteer work together?
Instead of helping yourselves to another dish, head to a local soup kitchen or homeless shelter and help dish out food to those who really need it. Rather get your hands dirty? Donate some time to building homes for those in need with Habitat for Humanity. Love animals? What about getting some exercise in by volunteering to walk some of the dogs at a local shelter on a lazy weekend? Speaking of exercise, find a local 5k race for a cause you like, and run, walk or volunteer at it together!
The great thing about giving back is that there will always be a need. And whether you want to commit to volunteering every single day or just on the occasional Saturday, you can!
Volunteering is a fulfilling way to bond with friends, and it's a gift from the heart that's good for the heart. So get going giving back! It'll be a great deviation from the usual dinner out (not to mention a whole lot better for you!)