Volunteering

One of the best way that I have found to help yourself, is by helping others.  Maybe it is because I live in the volunteer state, but giving time to organizations that you like it a great way to better your life.  I can not list all of the great things that I have received by volunteering.  Some of the simple things are: free meals, clothing, contests to win prizes, and even a trip to another country.

I never would have visited the Czech Republic without volunteering

Of course, the most important and valuable things that I got were intangibles. Volunteering at the animal shelter gave me lots of puppy and kitty love.  I have made many, many friends. I have also gotten to experience things that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Good Times, Good Friends

The important thing is to volunteer for things that are meaningful to you.  “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”
― Mother Teresa

536 Million Dollars

I must admit that I did buy a lottery ticket.  However, spending that $1 gave me a lot of happiness.  What I did was plan out, like I am sure, many people did, how I would spend the money if I won.  Of course there were the usuals: travel, pay off debt, save, quit my job. 

Who would you help if you won the lottery?

The real fun though came when I was figuring out whom to give the "rest" to.  Would I build the animal shelter a new building, give my school a new baseball field.  It was very interesting to see where my priorities came out.

A Clean Sweep

I have been volunteering at the local animal shelter and it turns out that they are having a yard sale this weekend. I couldn't sleep tonight (last night?) and so I have packed up a bunch of stuff to take to their sale. I hope it brings them some money.
They say that to really make a change you need to throw out 50 things. I'm not sure if I made that number. I did if you count individual CDs in my audio books. I am a little sad that the house doesn't really even look like I got rid of a bunch of stuff. At least it is a start. Plus I found a few new things that i can use now that I am not buying anything new.
Tomorrow I am "cheating" a little. My friend and I are going out to lunch at a Chinese place so I will need to pay for my lunch that way.