"Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth." -Muhammad Ali
"It is not the style of clothes one wears, neither the kind of automobile one drives, nor the amount of money one has in the bank, that counts. These mean nothing. It is simply service that measures success." -George Washington Carver
"Joy can only be real if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness." -Leo Tolstoy
To be truly successful and live a legendary life you must be in balance with all aspects of life and being of service is a big part of that balance. Muhammad Ali, George Washington Carver and Leo Tolstoy are unarguably legendary personalities that transcend their fields of expertise. Neither of their fields of expertise was service specific, but they felt that to maintain balance in their lives service must be integral to their careers. Each had their own unique lifestyles and are a prime example that service to others in whatever way fits your life or calling must be intertwined.
Service to others provides so much more than giving to others. You actually gain so much for yourself. Some of the personal benefits include:
1. Psychological benefits: Volunteering increases overall life satisfaction and helps you feel good about yourself because you are helping others. It can also help to decreases stress and ease depression.
2. Social benefits: Volunteering engages us with the community, creates special bonds with the population being served, and increases social awareness and responsibility.
3. Cognitive benefits: Volunteering helps us enhance our personal knowledge, grow from new experiences, and develop better interpersonal communication skills.
Needless to say, the world's religions suggest that service be an integral part of our lives.
"And do not forget to do good to one another." Quran 2:238
“As the mother protects her only child even at the cost of her own life, in like manner is boundless, loving kindness to be cultivated towards all living beings.” -Buddha
"Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you." Deuteronomy 16:17
"I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35
We are all called to serve because we are each others keeper.