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Helping others... also helps you.
Some people think that when we retire, we have given everything we could and that now it's time to look at life as if it were a streaming series: sofa, blanket, and popcorn. But the truth is that helping others activates your body, mind, and heart in ways you can't even imagine. And the best part is that you don't need a cape, mask, or special powers. Although if you want to dress up and impress the children you're volunteering with... go ahead, but don't get caught with your cape caught in the door.
Sometimes we think that to make a difference we need to be extraordinary, have unlimited time, or infinite resources. Nothing could be further from the truth! The simplest gestures can change someone's life: a smile, truly listening, accompanying someone on a walk, organizing something... and in the process, feeling useful, connected, and alive.
Why do it?
The body gets active: Walking, moving light objects, accompanying someone, or spreading smiles also counts. Gentle exercise + a happy heart = a winning combination.
The mind awakens: Talking, listening, solving problems, organizing tasks... free mental gymnastics! Even learning to use WhatsApp with endless lists deserves a gold medal.
Sadness deflates: Less thinking, more laughter, more connections. Having a meaningful agenda is worth more than any TV series marathon or compulsive mug collecting.
New friendships: A good conversation beats any night out (although a drink is always welcome). You meet people with similar interests, share stories, and who knows, you might even discover forgotten talents.
Mini personal anecdotes:
That time I approached the old folks from my neighborhood who were sitting in the park and ended up explaining memes to a group of grandparents who thought TikTok was a clock.
Another time, while sorting clothes at a flea market to raise funds, I tried to organize the clothes by color and size... I ended up creating impossible combinations and discovered that someone had a secret talent for mixing stripes with polka dots.
Cooking workshop at the Escorxador where we discovered that chopped garlic can be a weapon of self-defense.
Mini-challenges for volunteers
Ninja smile challenge: During a visit, try to give five smiles in less than ten minutes... without anyone seeing you counting in your head.
Detective challenge: Listen to a story without interrupting and then guess the detail that no one mentioned. Bonus: if you guess correctly, you win an imaginary coffee.
Absurd creativity challenge: Organize a space or activity in the craziest way possible, but make it functional. If someone asks you "why like that?", respond "it's modern volunteer art."
Technology challenge: Send a WhatsApp list without making a mistake or sending an embarrassing emoji... extra prize if you manage not to accidentally send a message to your ex.
Superhero challenge without a cape: Do something useful in secret. No one finds out, you smile, and voilà: dopamine rush guaranteed!
It's never too late to learn
Volunteering is also a school: you learn patience, organization, listening... even how to use technology a little. And if you already have experience, your knowledge and time are pure gold.
And how does it feel at the end of the day?
A satisfaction that even a cruise vacation can't beat. Seeing how your time improves someone's life is one of the most beautiful things you can experience. The whole world doesn't need to know: it's enough to feel it in your own heart.
Conclusion:
Volunteering isn't just for young people with backpacks. It's also for the young at heart, with shiny gray hair, stories to tell, and a lot to offer. When you help, you don't just give... you also receive. And that, my friend, is a rush of happiness that never expires.
So if you thought retirement was about sitting around watching life rust away... think again. Giving a little of your time activates your heart, your mind and, above all, your smile. Superpower unlocked, no cape or mask included!
Helping the elderly
Volunteers with invisible superpowers
Because sometimes the best gym is bringing smiles to people's faces
They say that the best thing in old age is to stay active. Some people do Pilates, others take up painting, and then there are those of us who have discovered the most complete sport of all: helping others. Giving a helping hand is not only a nice gesture: it's also cardio, mental yoga, and an advanced course in patience all rolled into one.
The secret power of old age
Young people think they have energy... but we have something better: time, skill, and experience. That makes us anonymous superheroes capable of:
• Waiting in line at the supermarket for someone else with more patience than a Buddhist monk.
• Turning a complicated recipe into a star dish (even if it doesn't look anything like the photo).
• Listening to problems with a wise look that says, "I survived that too, and here I am."
• Free exercise (and more useful than the gym)
Helping others is a disguised gym:
• Carrying bags → bicep workout.
• Accompanying walks → light cardio with conversation included.
• Picking things up off the floor → functional squats!
Why pay a membership fee when we already have the "neighborhood solidarity" version of CrossFit?
Humor as part of helping
It's not always about carrying weight or accompanying someone. Sometimes the greatest gift is making someone laugh. Tell the story of when you knocked on the wrong door, share some neighborhood gossip, or use that classic line, "I forgot what I was going to say." Humor is the cheapest medicine and the one with the fewest side effects (well, except for the wrinkles from laughing so much).
The magic of feeling useful
Helping is not just about giving, it's also about receiving. That grateful look, that "what would I do without you!" is worth more than any miracle cream or cruise trip. It reminds us that we are still important, that we have a lot to contribute, and that age only adds experience to the equation.
Final thought
In old age, helping others is not an obligation, it is a privilege. Because every gesture—big or small—makes us feel alive, connected, and part of something bigger. And let's be honest: what better way to spend our energy than making life a little easier for others... and laughing together along the way?
They say that helping others rejuvenates you. Of course, because between carrying bags, accompanying walks, and bending down to pick up what others drop, you end up getting more exercise than at the gym!
And the best part: you're not only moving your muscles, you're also moving smiles. Because at this age, the real facelift comes from giving laughter and knowing that you still have invisible superpowers: time, patience, and the desire to be there.