In his talks directed to single adults in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, some of President Gordon B. Hinckley's most often repeated advice was, simply, to serve others.
"The happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others," he wrote in a 1982 First Presidency message.
In the past, my eye-rolling response was always, "How can he possibly know what being single is like? He's married!" I thought losing myself in the service of others meant becoming the next Mother Teresa. Then, I had a week of amazing experiences recently that proved how wrong I was.
As I started looking around this small, humble microcosm in which I exist, I discovered there's plenty of nice things I can do, right here, in my community.
The week started out with filling in for my mom by volunteering at St. Vincent De Paul Soup Kitchen in downtown Salt Lake City with the Murray 11th Ward. Then, I donated blood at ARUP Blood Services, which isn't easy for me because of my pernicious anemia.
Wednesday brought a going-away party my LDS ward was throwing at the neighborhood park for a family that was moving, so I stepped into the kitchen and whipped up a batch of chocolate chip cookies for it. Because our ward has many children, I had plenty of opportunities to play aunt and help pick up the toddlers being loaded like torpedoes down the slide by their older siblings, wipe noses and kiss boo-boos.
Countless other opportunities presented themselves throughout the week, including watching my nephews, spending time with a friend, and taking care of my stepfather when he came down with a terrible virus.
The week came to a close with a less conventional form of service: singing in church. It was the first time I've been asked to sing in public, so I was honored when I was asked more than a month in advance if I'd be willing to do a number in sacrament meeting. I found a great piece, practiced hard and performed with confidence to bring the Spirit and love of the Savior into the meeting.
Throughout my week of mostly unplanned service, I realized I was on a roll, and I kept finding opportunities, big and small, to serve my fellow people. I was feeling so satisfied, so filled with the sprit of service, I wanted to do more good deeds.
For anyone who is feeling down or having too much fun indulging in a pity party, I recommend you take President Hinckley's challenge and find some small way to serve.
You don't have to make a week out of it. It doesn't have to be big and grand. Don't feel bad if it doesn't go viral. The littlest, most insignificant act of service you stop and provide might make somebody else's day.
Who knows, you might lose yourself — or find yourself — in the process.
Michelle is a University of Utah graduate with a bachelor's degree in English. She blogs at oldmaidmormon.blogspot.com.