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Living Wills Make Final Wishes Known
People remember how sad they felt while Terri Schiavo withered away; as they watched the woman's family fight over what they thought she wanted. You Should Have A Living Will While Living Wills have existed for some time, they have become household words ...
Society in Deep Denial - Sexual Child Abuse
Are you shocked, sickened and dismayed by the Michael Jackson verdict? I am not shocked, but I am significantly sickened and dismayed that society is in denial about what constitutes sexual child abuse. The truth is, we cannot have empathy toward ...
The Importance of Mothers
Moms, did you ever question your value as a role model, caretaker, administer of hugs and Band-Aids? I think we all have in today's climate of "do more, get more, have more." Many of us work to bring home a paycheck and others work for our sanity. Have ...
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I have been a volunteer my entire life. At church, school, in the community, you name it; I've tutored, walked, handed out food, created newsletters, and so on. Why: Because I love the feeling that I get from volunteering. It is such a selfless act and regardless of what I give as a volunteer, I always get so much more back from the experience.
Today, many people find themselves standing at a crossroads in life. Some people feel stuck in a rut, others are preparing to make a move, and still others just feel that "something isn't right." No matter which group best fits you, volunteering can be the key to get you moving in the right direction. While there are many benefits to becoming a volunteer, below are 5 key reasons that you should incorporate some type of volunteer activity in your life:
1. Volunteering instantly expands your network. People come from all walks of life to volunteer for causes they believe in. If you are looking for a new job or starting a business you might be surprised at the contacts you could make working at a soup kitchen or cleaning up a playground. Contacts created and maintained this way can be a lot stronger (and more "real") than anything you'll find at a networking event.
2. Volunteering gives you a chance to learn or develop a new skill in a "safe" environment. Looking to create web development skills? Offer to do a web site for an organization that doesn't have one. Want to start your own business as a publicist? Volunteer to help a local charity publicize their next big event. More than likely an organization already has someone on staff responsible for the activity you want to do, but that person is probably overworked and could use the help.
3. Volunteering takes the focus off of you. Most of us are too involved in our own lives. We are depressed, anxious, and worried about every little thing that happens. Our lives are filled with problems we don't have answers for and relationships badly in
need of repair. By volunteering, you shift the focus off of your life and on to somebody else's life. How insignificant do your problems at work seem in comparison to the challenges of a homeless family? How important is being able to afford a new car versus teaching a child to read? By volunteering, you quickly realize many people have problems a lot bigger than yours.
4. Volunteering looks good on your resume. Yes, this is a selfish thing, but it is the truth. Corporations work hard to be good neighbors and get positive recognition in the community. They depend on their employees to be the ambassadors for the company and get involved in the initiatives that the company financially supports. Volunteering provides you with skills to put on your resume, leadership experiences to talk about in an interview, and references who can speak to your work ethic.
5. Volunteering helps make the world a better place. Okay, this might sound cheesy, but it too is the truth. So much is accomplished in this country as a result of the generosity of volunteers. Organizations such at the Red Cross, local churches, Girl/Boy Scouts, neighborhood watch groups, women's shelters etc. are able to provide services because of the people that volunteer. Imagine what this world would be like if people had nowhere to go when they lost their jobs or their homes. What would happen to our children if there weren't any big brother/big sister/ mentoring type of programs or no after school activities?
So the next time you find your life stuck on pause, consider becoming a volunteer. The few hours a week you invest in another person's life will be returned to you a hundred times over.
About the Author
Myrtis Smith, the founder of Premeditated Life is a personal and career coach. Download her FREE eBook "Your Personal Success Guide" at www.premeditatedlife.com www.premeditatedlife.com ...because life doesn't just happen!
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