"Le service rendu sans joie n'aide ni le serviteur ni le servi"

The message here is about the importance of joy in service. If you’re doing something for someone else and you’re not happy about it, it doesn’t really benefit anyone involved. You're unhappy, and the person you’re helping can sense your lack of enthusiasm. It’s like cooking a meal for someone with a sour attitude—the food might be okay, but it’s just not the same.

Now, imagine Mahatma Gandhi saying this. He was all about service, but he knew that doing things begrudgingly just didn’t work. When he talked about this, he wanted people to understand that genuine, joyful service is what makes a real difference. It’s not just about the act itself, but the spirit in which it’s done.

Think about volunteering at a local shelter. If you’re there because you have to be, maybe for school credits or because someone guilt-tripped you into it, you’re probably just going through the motions. The people you’re helping can tell. They see your forced smiles and hear the annoyance in your voice. It doesn’t uplift them—it might even make them feel worse. But if you’re there because you genuinely want to help, because it brings you joy to make someone’s day a little brighter, that’s a whole different story. Your positive energy is contagious. The people you help can feel your sincerity, and it makes the world a bit better for both of you.

So, how do you apply this? Start by finding something that you actually enjoy doing. Love animals? Volunteer at a shelter. Good at gardening? Help out at a community garden. When you choose something that you’re passionate about, your joy will naturally come through. And if you find yourself stuck in a situation where you have to serve but aren’t feeling it, try to find some aspect of it that you can enjoy. Maybe it’s the conversations you have with people, or the satisfaction of seeing a task completed well. Focus on that.

Let’s paint a picture—imagine a guy named Sam. Sam works at a soup kitchen every Saturday. At first, he did it because his friend roped him into it. He wasn’t thrilled about spending his weekends this way. He’d drag his feet, counting down the hours until he could leave. One day, he decided to change his mindset. He started chatting with the regulars, learning their names, their stories. He discovered that he loved hearing about their lives and sharing a laugh. Before he knew it, he was looking forward to Saturdays. The work hadn’t changed, but his attitude had. And it made all the difference.

In the end, it’s about finding joy in what you do. When you serve with joy, it’s a win-win. You feel good, and so do the people you’re helping. So, next time you’re in a position to serve, check in with yourself. Are you feeling it? If not, can you find a way to bring some joy into it? Because when you serve with a happy heart, everyone benefits.