Bloody Blog

(I actually wrote this on 10/31)

Today’s blog is all about blood and gore. How appropriate for the All Saints Day! Therefore it is not recommended for a faint of heart.

I warned you ;-)

We had the “Halloween Blood Drive” at work today.

I kind of like giving blood, because it’s an easy lazy way for me to help other people. The amount of sacrifice I make is fairly small in comparison to the benefit somebody might receive for a pint of my bodily fluid. I get to lie down for 20 minutes in the middle of workday, and even get a cookie, juice, and the sense of accomplishment.

Yes, it is a good deal.

I feel so proud when I see that plastic bag plump in the color of merlot, though very little labor on my part went into producing it.

For the similar reason I like fantasizing about which body parts of mine can be salvaged after I pass on. I’m not planning on dying anytime soon. But when I no longer have any use for my body, I’d like to see as much of it utilized for good cause as possible.

I wonder if my motivation is mostly based on joy of charity or something else. The kind of pleasure I feel through blood & organ donation is more similar to the excitement I get out of recycling pop cans than say, volunteering for children’s ministry.

It is still the feeling of “doing the right thing” that compels me. But the satisfaction I derive from these activities may be rather economical in nature. It would be different if I had a personal relationship with the receiver of my donation. Then it would be more compassion driven of course.

In any case, I don’t know if there is anything I do that is truly altruistic. Either way it’s fine with me. I’m happy doing what I do, and if that makes other people happy, even better, right?