Feel Good Friday - Giving Back!

[Amanda Barber]

Sorry this is so late! It's technically still Friday here in the United States.

This upcoming Monday is Martin Luther King, Jr. day here in the United States. It got me thinking about ways I enjoy giving back and supporting my community.

Did you know...

“Giving back has been shown to boost happiness, reduce stress, enhance self-esteem and strengthen social connections,” said Megan Hays, Ph.D., a clinical psychologist at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. “Engaging in acts of generosity activates the brain’s reward system, fostering positive emotions and a sense of purpose.”

Hays says studies have shown that such acts improve mental health and can contribute to physical health benefits, such as lower blood pressure and a healthier immune profile. Research suggests that volunteering — particularly when driven by a genuine desire to help others — is associated with a longer lifespan. -Source

Source

What are some ways you enjoy giving back? 

[Charlie Misonne]

Beging supportive on the job. I like when co-workers know me to be a person that always tries to be helpful and is open for any question they might have.

Happy Firday (Sunday)!

[Andy Gladstone]

In my community I volunteer on multiple boards for educational institutions. Some of the greatest personal feelings of fulfillment have come from the work I have done on these committees. 

And here too, in the Atlassian Community Forums. Although I have been less active in the past year, I still feel a sense of accomplishment when I can contribute an answer, a comment, or just a like, to help someone I have never met make their experience easier or more enjoyable.

“Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. ... You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.” -Martin Luther King Jr., 1968

[Barbara Szczesniak]

The primary way that I give back to my community is by donating food to a local food bank. This has been made easy for me:

1. Go shopping (I'm doing this for my family anyway)
2. Purchase items that are on sale with a "buy 1, get 1 free" model
3. Put the free items in a bag (sometimes I buy items my family doesn't eat and put both items in the bag; I am lucky enough to be able to afford to do this)
4. Take the bag(s) with me to church on the weekend (I'm going there anyway, and my church has a food bank)