What can you do about things that distress you?

[flowerseverywhere]

For the past eight years three friends and I get together to play games and socialize twice a month. Two of them are so upset about problems they see in society. But getting upset does not help anyone so we decided to make a list of what we can do to make things better in little ways.
Please don’t put polical comments here as each of us has the right to believe in what we believe. Constructive ideas is what this is for.

food: donate to a food bank, volunteer for a soup kitchen,, support meals on wheels with time.
Literacy and education: go to school board meetings, volunteer to be a tutor to children or adults who are learning English. Many schools allow volunteers to help children read. Find out what your library is doing to raise funds for special programs for kids. Big brothers/big sisters
housing: habitat for humanity. A local church has volunteer groups to help make repairs in a nearby area, some have bingos to raise funds for good causes and so on.you don’t have to belong to a church or believe in any god to help others do good.

We Had many more suggestions and are working to not only try to help but are banding together with others to help.

so what can you come up with to right the wrongs we can see in our communities, our states, our countries?

[iris lilies]

Donate blood.That is really important.

The last time I went in to donate my iron count was a bit too low, so I am on an iron increase regieme.

[rosarugosa]

Flowers: I think it's a great strategy to focus on actions you can take that will actually do some good. I had not thought of it in this context, but DH and I have recently started providing some support for a friend who has been struggling to feed himself. He is a very sweet man in his fifties, who lives alone and is bipolar and diabetic. He is on SSDI. He gets SNAP benefits, but only $27 per month. He lives about 1.5 hrs away and has no transportation, so we cannot just set an extra place at the table. We've done Instacart groceries and ordered food from a local sandwich shop for him. The local food pantry helps him a little bit, but seems to mostly provide some canned goods. He can get good lunches at the local senior center 3 days per week. He does not cook. It's been eye-opening for me to try to see things from his point of view. A lot of our ability to eat healthy, frugal meals depend on good mental health, access to transportation, DH's skills in the kitchen. Of course, it goes without saying that having financial resources makes everything a bit easier. He is currently on a waiting list to get into a group home/assisted living type of situation, but in the meantime, I'm sure we'll continue to provide some assistance because groceries get eaten and gone, and the need remains.

[happystuff]

Wonderful ideas. Good thread - making me realize I need to step up and start helping where/when I can.

[catherine]

Yes, I do believe in the "be the change" concept. It is the most empowering way a person can right wrongs. I continue with my volunteer projects, and my writing proect, Exit 9, is a form of activism for me.

But first I meditate, then I journal.

[iris lilies]

Wonderful ideas. Good thread - making me realize I need to step up and start helping where/when I can.

You are so new in retirement. I hope you find activities that make your heart sing. Don’t be afraid to step away from the ones that do not please you when you first try them out. Good volunteers have fun with their chosen activities.
there are 1 million places to volunteer, so if one doesn’t enrich your life, you’ll find another one that will.

[Tradd]

I’ve been donating to the local food pantry for years.

[ToomuchStuff]

Find a way to laugh at it, it helps remove some of its power and sting over you, because in the end, life gets the last laugh.

This may not seem like much, but in the absurdity of life (my cancer, working seven days a week, now my main support also going through cancer, the idiot has started having all of his medical and welfare check calls go to me on top of everything), it's the best I can do.

[iris lilies]

Find a way to laugh at it, it helps remove some of its power and sting over you, because in the end, life gets the last laugh.

This may not seem like much, but in the absurdity of life (my cancer, working seven days a week, now my main support also going through cancer, the idiot has started having all of his medical and welfare check calls go to me on top of everything), it's the best I can do.

Look, TMS, I am going to speak to you like your mother: you need to say “ No” to these tasks associated with the person you are supporting.
Just. Say. No.

It’s ok to do that. Really.

[happystuff]

You are so new in retirement. I hope you find activities that make your heart sing. Don’t be afraid to step away from the ones that do not please you when you first try them out. Good volunteers have fun with their chosen activities.
there are 1 million places to volunteer, so if one doesn’t enrich your life, you’ll find another one that will.

Thanks, IL. You've been very supportive with this and I appreciate it!