LPT: If you are feeling lonely this holiday season, consider volunteering for an organization that helps your fellow humans (or unfortunate animals). If at first you don't like it, try a different organization. It may take a few tries to find out what truly feels good.

Submitted by ilovemybaldhead t3_zwjbl4 in LifeProTips

Some examples: soup kitchens, food pantries, animal shelters (great way to have the experience of pet companionship without actually owning one). I'd love to read some examples of people's experiences volunteering, and how it alleviated their loneliness.

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Applejuiceinthehall t1_j1v485n wrote

Also recommend animal shelters. They are usually closed but animals still need cuddlers

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Ostratego t1_j1v0dfn wrote

Volunteering at a soup kitchen, I found that the place would be devoid of volunteers for every day except religious holidays. It was a break for me every time that happened on my volunteer day.

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madmiah t1_j1w4abu wrote

Fostering animals is a great way to help reduce crowding in shelters and you get a companion at home.

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Dandibear t1_j1v4v6l wrote

I volunteered snuggling animals at a shelter during college. An hour with dogs that were starved for affection and that happily curled up in my lap put my own problems neatly in perspective.

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enokioyster t1_j1w8ubv wrote

Started volunteering at an animal shelter a year and a half ago. Now I'm on my way to becoming a Vet Tech and have met some amazing people and amazing cats and dogs! Never thought I would be excited about my future, but here I am 😁

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ThresholdChild t1_j1y8q9l wrote

This made me tear up. I have a hard time being excited about my future. Makes me happy that you got there! 🥹

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keepthetips t1_j1ux8bx wrote

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YogaLover22 t1_j1v7kxk wrote

There are several special one time only banquets or meals being served right now, mostly through churches. Those are great! No recurring commitment and easy going

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-jah_bone- t1_j1ywsyj wrote

I didn’t do it out of loneliness, but I spent a few years volunteering at a science museum for kids. For anyone curious, it’s called OMSI and it’s in Portland, Oregon.

I had the time of my life. Everyone who volunteered there was so sweet and fun to work with. And it’s always really cool to see kids getting to experiment with science-y stuff and watch their tiny minds explode as they try to figure out what’s happening.

Soup kitchens are also pretty fun, and there’s also a cool organization called Donate Life that works as an advocacy group for organ donation. I got to volunteer for some really fun events like big walks and the Portland pride festival and even the Rose City Comic-Con. People are sometimes a bit rude because they have a lot of misconstrued notions about organ donation but in general it was a lot of fun.

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doubleflusher t1_j1v0qyf wrote

But only do it once. Fuck the poor and destitute the rest of the year, right?

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Cindexxx t1_j1x9vkx wrote

Doing it once to help yourself is still helping someone else. It's not a billionaire "donating" a million to their own charity. And someone who helps once, and likes it, might come back.

Discouraging someone to help others is the worst thing you can do. That's what you just did.

You just did the worst thing you can do. Did it at least make you feel better?

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