Acts of Service - A Pathway to Gratitude

What does it mean to be in service to others?

I started volunteering in high school: every student was required to log at least 28 hours in order to graduate. Mostly, I worked with the 60+ population at our local senior center and community events. While I didn’t pursue it much beyond the requirement, I did recognize a spark within me — something that ignited when I connected with others and felt part of something greater than myself. That said, I wouldn’t call this being in service to others — not in its rawest form. There was an exchange happening. I was allowed to graduate high school in return for giving up some of my precious teenage time. The fact that I enjoyed the experience was a bonus.

Adolescence, Awakening & the First Spark

Honestly, I didn’t really give a sh*t about something “greater than myself” during my adolescence. I was too self-involved and concerned with my social calendar and hyper-dramatic high school woes to think much outside of myself. Fast-forward to my 20s, and I had an awakening of sorts. I was unhappy — with both my internal status quo and the systems around me.

Oh, also — I was diagnosed with Celiac disease and had embarked on my own food and healing journey. I entered culinary school and started working at Whole Foods Market* (WFM) as a Healthy Eating Specialist. For the first time, I excelled — and for the first time, I felt truly called to think beyond myself. I began noticing the whispers of connection in our food system. This was a turning point. There was no going back.

I started a gardening club at school so fellow students could grow and access local food. I volunteered for every single school-sponsored event. As part of my job at WFM, I coordinated monthly team-building volunteer opportunities and launched a community garden plot with the Girl Scouts. Looking back, I can see how the spark that ignited in high school had caught fire and built real momentum.

So, is that what “being in service” means?

Still, my heart tells me no. Not because I wasn’t making a positive impact, but because my motivation wasn’t to be of service — it was focused on what I could get out of it.

To be clear: I’m not throwing shade at my past self. This is just an honest assessment of who I was, who I am, and who I’m becoming.

To quote Joey Tribbiani from Friends (late 1900s, early 2000s 😄):

“There’s no unselfish good deed. Sorry!”

For those unfamiliar or too young to know the show, the premise of that episode was:

• Good deeds make the giver feel good, so they’re not truly selfless.

• A selfless deed would require zero emotional or practical benefit to the giver.

I agree with Joey (kind of)

And that’s okay. We are self-interested creatures — wired for survival, safety, and meaning. The problem arises when this natural self-interest gets weaponized by capitalism and a toxic hyper-independence mentality. (Looking at you, 2025 👀.)

But what if we flipped the script?

What if we leaned into interdependence instead?

What if we were honest about the reciprocity necessary to make things move — in our lives, our communities, and even in this profits-over-people economy?

We’re Already in Service (All the Time)

Here’s just one example: consider how far food travels in the U.S. before it reaches your plate.

• Farmers and farmworkers grow, harvest, wash, and pack your food.

• Drivers transport it to manufacturing, processing, or distribution hubs.

• Workers turn raw ingredients into packaged products or deliver them to regional centers, then to neighborhood stores.

• Retail staff receive, store, display, and replenish shelves.

• Butchers and fishmongers break down large cuts and answer our questions.

• Cashiers and baggers make checkout smooth — often with a smile.

Zooming out: food that can't be sold is rescued by nonprofits and faith-based orgs. This all happens on roads built and maintained by people. With water purified and piped by infrastructure built by human hands.

We. Need. Each other.

We are already a deeply interconnected, interdependent system. Whether it’s paid work or unpaid, our lives are built on invisible service and support networks. Acknowledging this is transformative. It shifts our mindset from isolation to community — from “me” to we.

Not Sure Where to Start? Start Small.

It can feel overwhelming to choose where to put your energy — so many causes are calling for help, and they all matter. But here’s the good news: they’re all connected. Supporting one thing strengthens the whole.

Simple Ways to Be of Service

• Build Relationships: Talk to your neighbors. Share tools you rarely use (I’m looking at you, chainsaw).

• Sign or Start Petitions: Check out Change.org or ActionNetwork.org to add your voice — or start something yourself.

• Donate: Even small contributions can make a difference. Give to local orgs aligned with your values.

• Contact Representatives: Call, email, or write to express your views on the issues that matter.

• Volunteer for Short Events: Try cleanups, food drives, or community days. VolunteerMatch.org is a great resource.

• Offer Your Skills: Whether it’s tutoring, photography, or tech support, your gifts are needed. Consider bartering or gifting your time.

• Join Local GroupsAttend meetings when you can. Start with groups like:– Sierra Club– Human Rights Campaign

• Attend Workshops: Learn how to make a difference with training and tools.

• Commit to Regular Volunteering: Even one hour a week can have a ripple effect.

• Start a Community Initiative: If you see a gap, fill it. Bring others in. Build something new.

Service + Gratitude = The Perfect Pairing

Being grateful for the life we have allows creativity to flourish. It opens the door to supporting what others are doing — and to collaborating in new ways. Gratitude is the antidote to comparison and overwhelm. When I’m lost in heavy thoughts, weighed down by the world, I return to a simple practice:

I name 3 things I’m grateful for — right now.

This simple pause re-energizes me. It reminds me of the joy of being alive. And it helps me take the next right step. Try it! I promise, you won't be disappointed. It doesn't change every little aspect of your life but it does bring them into perspective.

Final Thoughts: The Collective Ripple

Being in service to others isn’t about obligation or perfection. It’s about acknowledging our interconnection — and acting from that place.

Every small act of service matters. Every single one. They ripple out in ways we can’t always see.

So let’s start where we are.

Let’s serve one another — and this planet — with presence, creativity, and care.

Let’s build a world where interdependence is the norm, not the exception.

Together, we rise.

—

*before they were owned by Ama-zon, but after John Mackey released Conscious Capitalism.