Blood doning

[undyingking]

It struck me the other day what a very nice activity giving blood is. (Apart from the pain, bruising, etc, that is.) The mood in the room is uplifting; everyone, donors and staff, is pleasant, friendly and appreciative of each other; there's a good mix of people of all descriptions among the donors; basically it comes across a bit like the ideal utopian society.
(At least, that's been the case in the various places where I've been. If it's different round you, maybe I've just been lucky.)
It made me wonder: when else do we get to have such a generally pleasant experience, apart from things involving one's near and dear and/or mind-altering substances? People at work, in shops, in pubs etc might be reasonably OK to be around, but you don't come out of those feeling uplifted and positive about life in general.
I wondered whether part of this mood is because this is the closest that most of us get to genuine altruism. Maybe the endorphin rush of for once being relatively unselfish, and being around other people in a similar rush, is responsible.
(Or maybe light-headedness from being shy a pint?)

Comments

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

Hm, you remind me that I should go again towards the end of next month. At least I never have trouble finding a sensibly-timed session; our area seems to be very fruitful for donors and so the NBS run slightly-better-than-monthly sessions -- though booking an appointment is necessary or you'll have a very long wait...

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mm, similar pattern here. Although they didn't want my blood for six months after getting back fom India, and won't again after the next time, so it'll be next June now... I'll never get my gold badge at this rate!

[bibliogirl.livejournal.com]

I couldn't go for years, we kept going on holiday at exactly the wrong point... I'm impressed that India only disqualifies you for six months, though; South Africa is a year. Hell, even the States is six weeks (when they're worried about West Nile virus).

[queenortart.livejournal.com]

They won't have any of mine anymore ever. I fell over big time after giving plasma and they told me to sod off and never come back. Thought that was pretty harsh personally!

I miss the feeling of good deal for the dayness

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

They might have you back by now, they're getting a bit desperate! -- last mass exclusion was "anyone who's received blood since 1980", which thinned the numbers considerably.

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

Strange, I grew to dislike the whole process of giving blood, both the pestering beforehand, and the long queues and chair hopping. I got to 25 or so before giving up.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

I guess I'd find it a bit of a pain if I was in a hurry, but these days I rarely am...

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

You can opt out of the pestering, and there are some sessions where you can book an appointment to minimize queuing. However it'll be irrelevant in Colorado as I think Brits are presumed to be too exposed to BSE to donate anyway (I wonder if they make an exception for vegan Brits?).

[vicarage.livejournal.com]

Vegans in Colorado, only if t__m__i visits!

I get a similar feeling

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

from volunteering in a the Oxfam bookshop. I'm hanging out with people I like, doing fun things, for a good cause, and so! many! books! (I like giving blood, too.)

Re: I get a similar feeling

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Mmm, sounds good! -- next time I'm in Oxford I'll pop along to the bookshop and open a vein, see if I get a double buzz.

just remember

[cleanskies.livejournal.com]

to bring your own plastic sheeting

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

I get a similar good vibe (though without the altruism) from toddling along the South Bank on a sunny weekend with a pocket full of change for Small to give to the buskers - everyone's in a good mood, no-one's really in a hurry and the little ones are enjoying themselves.
Ditto the mother and baby yoga sessions I used to go to at Brockwell Park Lido. Actually the Lido itself is said to be a haven of that sort of "all human life is here" good stuff, there was a very good documentary about it a few years ago - must get down to it once Small is old enough for swimming lessons.
I have got to find a blood session that I can manage now I'm eligible again - I don't think Small would sit still for long enough, which severely restricts the times I can do.

[jiggery-pokery.livejournal.com]

For me, voting gives me a little pat on the head, and I'm always polite to the scrutineers. Even if I'm only there to spoil my ballot paper.

[undyingking.livejournal.com]

Aha, yes, good one - me too.

[brixtonbrood.livejournal.com]

Yes, but general elections don't count, because even complete no-hopers do that (I once heard the scrutineers patiently explaining to a very confused middle class nineteen year old why there wasn't a box marked "Tony Blair" that she could tick). But you do get a certain limited moral stature for voting in local and European elections, especially if the BNP/UKIP/Respect are standing, and even if you vote according to my preferred option in council elections, according to how close the candidates live to you (the theory is that they're more likely to get that crack house over the road sorted out if they have to walk past it every day as well).