Take a moment to absorb this quote by the Indian poet and philosopher Rabindranath Tagore, who lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Tagore said, “I slept and dreamt that life was joy. I awoke and saw that life was service. I acted and behold, service was joy.”
This idea is ripe to contemplate during the holiday season, when we think about brightening the world around us by giving and receiving gifts, gathering together with loved ones—and reflecting on how we can be of service to our communities.
If you’ve ever volunteered at a food pantry or shelter, you know that direct service impacts both the giver and the receiver. You might have even thought about it as a “feel-good” activity to donate money or collect items that are needed following a natural disaster or community challenge.
But if we read Tagore carefully, we discover an even deeper feeling around serving others.
We discover joy.
Identifying a need that you are able to meet, and then meeting it, is more than satisfying, more than helpful, more than fun. It’s the stuff that joy is made of.
And if life is both joy and service as Tagore outlines, we have opportunities to access this joyful wellspring every single day—especially during the winter holidays.
When we reach out to a friend who seems lonely during this time of family gatherings, we are serving them by showing we care. When we prepare a thoughtful gift for a neighbor or family member, we are serving them by showing we see them clearly. When we participate in a community service project, we serve by sharing from our time, energy, and inspiration.
So many ways to serve—and such joy to be found in each and every one.
How will you be of service this holiday season?
