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...

[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

[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.

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.)

[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.