Does helping a friend gives you happiness?

Bunny with her best friends!!! - Bunny loves being with her best friends. They always help her and never failed to cheer her up. Bunny felt blessed to have two best friends in the whole world.
@charms88 (7538)
Philippines
May 13, 2007 2:08pm CST
We all have friends of various kinds. Casual friends, school friends, office friends and online friends. We also have our own "exclusive" best friends as well. I always have this feeling of happiness and satisfaction whenever I help a friend. It doesn't matter if its a casual friend and will take so much of my time. However, there are some friends who are not sincere and will rightly take advantage of your friendships. This always left me feeling sad and depressed. My best friends are my backbone. They never failed to show their support and encouragement to me. If anyone of us needed help, we are always there for each other. Even if we have nothing left to share, just the mere presence of each one of us gave us this sense of happiness. Does helping a friend also gives you happiness? Have you ever help a friend who left you feeling sad too? Do you think its worthy of your time and trouble to help a friend? Or do you never bothered to help any friend at all? Do share your thoughts.
26 people like this
75 responses
@shak143 (1280)
• India
13 May 07
Well helping friends gives me a lot of satisfaction and happines.But i wan't that my friends would never be i problems and thye have to lead a happy life.Ofcourse there are some freinds who will take this as advantage it's common as where there is a Good there will be bad. I always in first to help my friends and others also.i never see time and situation to help them.
7 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I hope you get to meet more good friends rather than the bad one. It does help us feeling good helping any friends.
2 people like this
@pyewacket (43903)
• United States
13 May 07
I'm very willing to help a friend as long as the person doesn't take advantage of my efforts in help and unfortunately I think we've all experienced that to some extent...But when I do help a friend out it does give me such a wonderful feeling inside...like I did my little good deed for the day!
5 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I am trying to help a friend here but I don't think I'm helping enough. I must be losing my charmimg power, LOL!
3 people like this
@arcadian (930)
• United States
15 May 07
I'm so surprised that you expressed such a sad feeling- of not having an online friend. You have many. You come across as a warm sweet person, but not just alot of fluff by any means. So the kindness of your tone is always clearly felt. Who could not or would not respond to you in the same way? You must be feeling a bit low-today. I hope that's all it is.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
13 May 07
Yes Charms it does As I love helping my Friend We are in the Process right now trying to help a Friend here and I really hope that we will suceed It is great when you are able to help a Friend but it is even better when you have succeeded
4 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
14 May 07
Sweetie why do you say that you are a good Friend to me and I will always be here for you you are as special as my other Friends to me so please Sweetie know you have a Friend here
3 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I know gabs. I'm just feeling sad for not having the good wisdom in choosing online friends anymore. We all stayed behind our avatar. I'm too blind to see what's behind each of the avatars.
3 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
Its nice to know that you are one with others in helping a friend here. I don't know gabs, I don't think I have much luck in having a true online friend.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (160077)
• United States
13 May 07
I like to help people, even if they are not friends. It can make you feel drained dry, if they are not appreciative, or if they continue to make the same stupid mistake, over and over again. I have also helped people who were basically in hopeless circumstances. I felt good for lightening their load for a moment, but sad that I could not make a permanent fix. I think we lose some of our humanity when we refuse to help others.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
This is what I'm trying to point out here, gardengerty. I honestly tried to help some friends. They did nothing but to keep putting themselves down. I can only help them to a certain degree.
3 people like this
@yanjiaren (9031)
13 May 07
I think my mistake is that I often gave into helping friends, or giving into their demands at the expense of my family and that has actually crippled me in many ways. I actually realize now that they were not my true friends but were just exploiting my soft nature. Now I try to think and weight things first before I take necessary steps to help where help is GENUINELY NEEDED as opposed to demanded with negative consequences for my nearest and Dearest.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I'm also poor in choosing friends that deserve my time and attention. Sadly, there are still a lot of questionable friends who will leave you when you needed them most. This always left me feeling weak and drained.
3 people like this
@arcadian (930)
• United States
15 May 07
To me, helping a friend is the meaning of success- to be in a position to help- whther it is with time, energy or money.In this past year I have not been able to help anyone very much and have in fact needed help. I was so grateful to the friends who came through for me. Couldln't have made it without them. some of those friends, were online. And you are one of them. I remember a particularly sad day for me, when I heard from you and was moved by your encouraging words. You never forget a thing like that.
4 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
19 May 07
Oh my goodness, I don't think I remember what discussion was that. Must be my age, LOL! I'm glad I was able to help.
2 people like this
@Marie2473 (8512)
• Sweden
14 May 07
I try to help my friends as much as I can and it does please me and make me happy to do so whenever I am able to. helping someone, even if it is a stranger gives me a great feeling =)
4 people like this
• India
14 May 07
Yes helping friends makes me very happy. I think my friends as the same way i feel about myself. If they are in a problem, it means i myself is in a problem. I do the maximum i can to bring them out of the problem. It may be a any kind of problem. I provide the support mentally and physically. When the problem is solved, i feel very happy such that i have got millions and millions of money
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
15 May 07
LOL, helping friends certainly make us feel richer. Good for you.
1 person likes this
@stella1989 (2274)
• India
14 May 07
I too categories my friends like this!!! I like helping those friends who really deserve my help..! Because I don't want any one to take advantage of me!! Some people who denotes themselves as your friends but at real they are not..!!So in that case I never offer them any kind of help. But helping a friend makes me feel a reall goody good inside..!! After all they are your friends!! But when some friend ditches me I still cannot stop myself from helping her..!! Just because she was my friend once.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
Sigh, we're the same. I just can't say no to a friend. I don't think it I will learn to change myself and pick the one who deserve my help.
1 person likes this
19 Jun 07
Sure. You know I try so hard to give others happiness and this is something I would always like to do. (without anything in return) It's always nice helping people, I'd give my life just to helping if it made a difference :) ~Joey
3 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
20 Jun 07
Laying your life for a friend eh. That is indeed honorable of you. I better ask my friends if they are going to do the same thing for me, LOL.
1 person likes this
@cherriemae (3370)
• Philippines
14 May 07
friends forever - a picture contains friends who had fun together..
in general, i think even you help a stranger will really make you happy..not only helping friends gives us happiness but to all people who needed our help..I have friends who ask help from me and it gives me a big smile in my face because i know i make the most of my best to help her..it's a nice feeling that you make people happy because you help them..
3 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
Glad to know that you can extend your help even to a stranger.
1 person likes this
@maddysmommy (16230)
• United States
14 May 07
I like helping my friends whenever I am able to. Sometimes I can't because there requests are sometimes beyond my means, but I do try to help in any way I can. Just the other day and old school friend I caught up with online asked if I could find a christian dvd for her as she was not able to get a copy in NZ. I knew her since primary school/elementary and I didn't mind looking for it, buying it and sending it to her with some hersheys chocolates. She was happy when she received it, gave me lots of thanks and is looking forward to my families visit to NZ next year. It makes me very happy and satisfied and I don't expect for her to repay me back, thats what friends are for.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
Oh maddysmommy, how nice of you. Your friend is lucky to have a good friend like you.
1 person likes this
@mexshyl (878)
• China
5 Jun 07
Hi, maddysmommy. I think, you're always so kind to your friend. I do envy them. :( It's lucky for them to have a friend like you. Yeah, I do agree with you. A real friend never expects for others repaying him/her back and always trys his/her best to help all the friends if possible. By the way, I also enjoy the feeling after helping my friends.:) Have a good day! ^_^
1 person likes this
@SKLC_PT (1234)
18 May 07
Helping anyone can give me happiness, and the more I like them, the happier it will make me! I know how I feel when someone helps me, so just knowing I might have made someone feel that way makes me smile. I love to help if I can, and I find it feels great to help! There's always people that will back stab you chamrs88, that's an unfortunate fact... I ussualy try to think well I made them happy and I was happy, now they have no right to my happiness therefore I won't help them, well not 100% of the time but I think that sometimes.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
28 May 07
It does makes me feel good to be able to help a friend in whatever ways I can. As it turn out, a virtual friend had turned nasty to me yesterday for no reason at all. I felt bad and hurt about it. "sigh"
1 person likes this
• Indonesia
14 May 07
I really do happy if I'm helping my friends, but not only my friends, it also another people that we don't know. Cause in my religion (Islam), the best person is the most use person for others. And in my religion, If we help others, than God must be help us. I also help others (not only friend) who left me feeling sad, cos I have principal that we must help other, wheater that person give happines or sadnes to me. I think its very worthy to give our time to help a friend.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I don't have any knowledge in Islam. But the teaching you mentioned spoke of true compassion. Yet, it can be pretty tiring to keep helping a friend when nothing good is happening.
1 person likes this
@nangel78 (1454)
• United States
14 May 07
Knowing I can be there for a friend when they need me is important. I treat my friends the way I would want to be treated with respect and an open ear. They are an extended part of my family.
3 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
Very well said, nangel78. You sure place a high value when it comes to your friends.
1 person likes this
@tammyr (5946)
• Etowah, Tennessee
14 May 07
I like to help others because it makes me feel good to do so. Does that make me selfish!LOL I hve had a few that really did not appreciate help, and take it for granted that others are going to help them. Those kinds of people do not need help, they want handouts and that is not my mission. I think every one should try to help others when they can.
3 people like this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
There is nothing selfish in helping a friend. We give it unconditionally and I hope people won't take it for granted.
1 person likes this
@denden (802)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I do feel good when i do help my friends and my relatives because its a nice feeling that you make others feel happy.And its our mission here to help others to do good to others.
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 May 07
I know its one of our mission to help a friend. I wonder why there are a lot of people abusing your kindness and support.
1 person likes this
@yxinxin (467)
• China
15 May 07
I am always ready to help my friend. After i have done something for my friends, they usually say thanks to me and I usually say, "My pleasure." I mean It's really my pleasure. Helping my friends really gives me pleasure. I feel I can make a difference and I feel successful.
3 people like this
@henazea (313)
• Kuwait
14 May 07
I love the look on my frnd's face when I help her out..its a feeling that keeps me elated through out.. I too have had friends who have taken the advantage of my sincerity..that friend turned so infamous that even her boyfriend got affected... Its a very sad thing for some kinds..
3 people like this
@edandunyo (146)
• Indonesia
14 May 07
Helping a friend is best think. just giving continous support to the friend. sure we will get happiness after helping a friend with no matter who's the friend.