There are many answers to the question as to why volunteering is important. Even though it’s not something you’ll get paid for, the benefits are actually greater than money.

To Improve Community Life

One good reason is that it goes a long way towards creating a healthy community. Kids who agree to take part in tidying up their classrooms and surrounding areas promote cleanliness. This in turn helps the community as the act removes pollution and thrash. It encourages others to do the same thing. In the end, everyone benefits from it.

This isn’t just limited to cleaning the environment of course. Those who willingly take part in tree planting, animal caring etc also contribute to the betterment of society.

To Give Back

Another reason why volunteering is important is it showcases someone’s gratitude. Someone who becomes successful in selling books may take part in a reading for children program. An athlete can spend some time in teaching others the basics of his / her sport. A successful entrepreneur can allocate some time to teaching others how to do business.

To Help Others in Need

During times of calamities, people need help. There are government agencies assigned to this task. However, it’s usually not enough. When ordinary people do their part to help, the task of aiding the grief stricken becomes easier.

This isn’t just true among the calamity stricken. There are people living in harsh conditions that need a helping hand. That’s why volunteering is important; you can reach out to others. There will be no financial rewards. But the joy you can bring to others will be priceless.

Things are Done More Effectively

When people get together, the job or assignment becomes easier to do. It doesn’t matter what the job at hand is. When individuals work together, most of the difficulties will be erased. Without any help, work becomes harder.

You Get Connected to Other People

When you take part in these activities, you get closer to people. You come to know your friends even more. You’ll make new acquaintances too. By getting more involved with other people, self confidence increases.

Giving Hope

One reason why volunteering is important is that you give others hope. A downtrodden person will be uplifted when he or she realizes that there are people out there who will help them out. It brings back their faith. It makes them aware that not everything is about money.

It Emboldens the Human Spirit

The selfless act of helping a person / cause / nature provides a spiritual boost as well. Knowing you did something good brings an emotional uplifting that can never be matched by money or fame. It’s not a glamorous job, but most who have tried it will tell you that the experience is a positive one.

These are just some of the reasons why volunteering is important. Not only does it bring hope and happiness to people, but it leads to spiritual and emotional growth too. It is an experience that cannot be bought.

Anyone studying the history of Black Friday will likely come across many theories explaining the name. The prevailing opinion is that it came into use during 1966 to describe the traffic it causes.

What Happens on the Day

This particular Friday is the one right after Thanksgiving in the US. This day has come to be known as the start of the holiday shopping rush. Depending on when Thanksgiving takes place, this would be on the 29th or 23rd of November.

On this day, stores both big and small offer large discounts. All major appliances, gadgets, toys etc. are sold at lowered prices. As such people come in droves, often lining up in the wee hours of the morning. The history of Black Friday will show that it isn’t an official holiday. While it isn’t, companies almost always let their people get off work early. Some even allow them to take leave.

The scenes are usually one of frantic buying, some pushing and shoving. As soon as the stores open, there is a rush to get in. Among the most popular items for sale are notebook computers, cell phones and home entertainment systems.

Where the Term Originated

As stated, the term is said to have been first used in 1966. One account has it that phrase was used by the cops. They were describing the traffic jams and the large crowds. Thus, the history of Black Friday and the term itself reflected the cops’ extra work.

However some claim that the term originated in newspaper accounts.
The term was supposedly coined by a journalist in describing the scenes in stores.

But one thing needs to be emphasized: the practice had commenced much earlier. There are records from 1924 confirming this. Back then, shoppers already used the Friday after Thanksgiving as the beginning of their holiday shopping spree.

Making a Profit

News media is now using the term in a different way. It is utilized to illustrate the profit that stores make. The history of Black Friday has shown the following fact: in spite of the giant sales, the stores make most of their money during this period.

The volume they sell outweighs the reduction in prices. Hence the store owners get in the black. This modern usage has gained widespread acceptance.

Other Facts

Based on some accounts, the practice of shopping on Friday after Thanksgiving had to do with old Christmas traditions. There was this belief that the period marked the arrival of Santa Claus. This meant the season of gift giving had begun. So people started shopping.

Aside from this Friday, Cyber Monday has become a popular shopping period too. It is the Monday immediately after Black Friday. As the name suggests, the shopping here is conducted online. Because of its convenience, more and more people are now shopping via the Web.

Whatever the origin and history of Black Friday may be, it’s a tradition that will likely continue on. While it can be frenzied, it has become part and parcel of the Yuletide season in America.

For someone who doesn’t do it, trying to understand why people volunteer can be difficult. This becomes even more so when the task is dangerous. But there are several motives that can be used to explain this.

Belief in the Cause

Whenever there have been wars, there have been those who made the decision to join the battle. For these individuals, it’s all about fighting for what they believe is right. It’s not that they’re unaware of the dangers, but it’s something they’re willing to go through. For many, the consequences of not joining will be much worse.

During World War I, thousands of Europeans joined on their own volition. That scene is repeated throughout history when wars are fought. For several individuals, the answer to why people volunteer is all about belief in the cause. It is something that is worth fighting for.

Thinking of the Future

For some, it’s all about the future. An example would be those that join environmental groups. These involve a lot of work, from cleaning out trash to taking care of endangered animals. These also include attending hearings and rallies. While some view these as thankless tasks, these people are thinking of the future. What they’re doing is to preserve the present so there will be a future.

This viewpoint isn’t just limited to environmentalists of course. People who safeguard monuments and national treasures are thinking of the same thing. They want to conserve the present so future generations may live in a better place.

Kindness

Simple kindness is another factor as to why people volunteer. When calamity strikes, we see men and women offering their services to help others. We see them helping total strangers who become trapped when earthquakes or hurricanes strike. For most, it’s simply a matter of doing the right thing. They do it because it is the proper thing to do. They don’t do it to get rewards or recognition.

Giving Back to People

An individual who becomes financially successful might feel the need to give some of the fortune back. Helping out is one way to do it. For these people, it’s not just another way to gain fame or earn more money. It is their way of expressing gratitude towards the others. When asked why people volunteer, gratitude and giving back may be the answer.

Growth of the Individual

A sense of achievement is another basis. Whether it’s reading to small children or helping build homes for the poor, the activity can bring a sense of fulfillment. Some also feel that is a way for them to grow emotionally and spiritually.

Other Benefits

Aside from helping others, the act also brings other advantages. It helps a person learn more about himself / herself. New skills can be acquired. The ability to communicate and reach out to others is improved. Joining in these activities can help one overcome personal hurdles. A sense of responsibility is also developed.

For many though, asking why people volunteer is no longer that important. What matters is the act itself and how it helps people or a cause.

There are probably as many explanations offered as to why people dream as there are researchers studying them. The following are some of the theories. They range from the scientific to the unusual, but the fact is no one really knows why it takes place.

Thinking of the Day’s Activities

One theory is that what we see are twisted images of our activities during the day. It’s not unusual for someone to dream of something that preoccupied them during the day.

According to this line of thought, even when we sleep the subconscious still thinks of what transpired that day. This is even more likely to happen when we think of it before going to sleep. The answer to why people dream would be simply the subconscious doing the thinking for the conscious mind.

Repressed Emotions and Desires

Some psychologists suggest that these images are mirrors of one’s fantasies. The reason they’re obscure and hard to remember is to prevent guilt. This hypothesis is in line with Freudian thought. That is, they form part of one’s sexual / hidden desires.

Clean up Time

A recent concept is that of the brain as a computer. Using this analogy, the sleeping state would be the time the computer / brain performs maintenance. This includes cleaning or removing files (memory). Based on this hypothesis, the reason why people dream are due to the cleaning activities of the brain.

Oneiric Darwinism

This theory proposes that what takes place is the creation of new concepts. Based on this theory, the ideas are culled from generations of thoughts. These thoughts may be shared by the subconscious. This is similar in a way to Jung’s theory of the Collective Unconscious / Subconscious mind.

Paranormal Explanations

During ancient times people believed that they contained hidden messages and portents. The Biblical story of Joseph is one example. Through the years, there have been reports of people being able to see in their dreams things that would eventually happen later. Although most scientists are skeptical, these stories persist.

Aside from premonitions, some cultures and individuals believe that the images contain messages from departed people. Some also think that they can provide help. There are some stories of people who sleep on a problem and dream of the solution.

Other Theories

There are those who believe there’s no point asking why people dream, because it doesn’t mean anything. They attribute the scenes to nothing more than the random actions of brain neurons.

Other scientists believe that it has a biological function. In this case, it would be to reduce the stress level in the body. Others think that what happens is the brain draws random images from memory.

These are joined up by the brain in various ways. Ultimately though, they have no meaning. The images we see may also be wish fulfillment of some sort. Some researchers are now of the opinion they are a subconscious form of psychotherapy.

Only future research and discovery can answer the question why people dream. In the meantime, people will continue to be enthralled and mystified by it.

There are many possible explanations as to why chest pains occur. If you’re experiencing some discomfort, any of the following could be the reason.

Physical Fatigue

If you are physically tired, you might feel pain in this area. Lifting heavy objects puts tremendous pressure on this area. If you’re not used to carrying objects, this can lead to a feeling of heaviness.

Physical fatigue can also happen after working or extended exercise. One common reason is running. If you run for several minutes and come to a sudden stop, discomfort might arise. The same is true when lifting weights. Dumbbells and barbells place stress on the back and other parts of the body. This is one reason why chest pains occur.

Heart Attack Symptoms

A more serious cause is a heart attack. There are many ways in which this can take place. The hurt may come suddenly. You may feel a sudden sharp sensation in the upper body. Some report that it feels like a pointed object has been stuck there.

Others feel a squeezing effect. The entire area tightens up and there is difficulty breathing. It may also begin as a feeling of numbness. This will soon be followed by shallow breathing.

Heart attacks are life threatening diseases. If you think it is the reason why chest pains occur in your case, see a doctor immediately.

Indigestion

Some people experience tightness in this body area after eating spicy food. The feeling can be sharp or just heavy. Another reason this can happen is when food is consumed too quickly. Not chewing food properly may cause the food to be stuck in the upper body area. This may be the cause of the pain.

Emotionally Upset

When someone is upset, breathing comes in short spurts. The torso may feel tight as well. For people with heart ailments, this can also happen when overjoyed.

Pneumonia, Cold and Bronchitis

These ailments are other reasons why chest pains occur. The torso may feel very heavy. Others might also feel tightness around the back, shoulder blades and legs. The discomfort felt usually isn’t severe. However if the pneumonia or bronchitis gets prolonged, the accompanying ache might increase too. Some colds and cough can also bring this uncomfortable feeling.

Angina

Angina is a disease related to the heart. What happens is that oxygen supply and demand to the arteries are not equal. Oxygen isn’t delivered properly to the blood vessels because the route is blocked. This isn’t a heart attack, but it may be a precursor to it.

What to Do

As you can see there are many reasons why chest pains occur. Your actions should depend on the cause. If it’s just due to fatigue, take some rest. If it’s because of heart ailments, you should consult your doctor. If it’s due to food, change your diet. Or check if it’s related to allergies.

The discomfort you feel may not be due to anything serious. But it’s important to know the various causes, so you’ll be prepared.

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