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

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