I donated blood.
The Jewish holidays always have me thinking about the good I could be doing in the world. And this year, I decided to do a very tangible good deed, donate some blood.
It was super easy to sign up to give. I had given before so I was already in the system. I just logged on to the New York Blood Center's website, chose a date, time, and location, and boom. Done. Good deed booked.
I wasn't nervous as I'd given in the past and remembered the process: first paperwork, then pin prick on the finger to check iron levels, then blood pressure test, then give a pint blood. And then the best part: cookies and juice.
It only took about an hour from the time I entered the facility to the time I departed with a neat blue bandage. And luckily, there was a blood drive right in my neighborhood so I only had 2 blocks to walk home where I binge watched Downton Abbey and drank some tea.
I'm type A+, a very common blood type, so it's likely my donation will be put to good use soon. I think about some of the people I love who have had to receive blood transfusions: my dad, my grandmother, my friend's son. And it makes me feel proud to be able to help someone else's dad, grandmother, or baby.
So if you can, donate some blood. It's a small time commitment. It costs zero dollars. One donation can save up to 3 lives. And you will feel fantastic afterwards. But not right afterwards. Usually after I give blood I feel queasy and sore. But after that, there's no better feeling than knowing I made a difference.
