VOLUNTEER……who me?!

In today’s often pulverizing demands of “trying to make ends meet,” it is often difficult to detract, albeit temporarily, from focusing on anything but the absolute essentials in our lives. We are all busy. (It was widely acknowledged that Americans work more hours than most of the folks in other industrialized nations.) Having stated that, I feel that we tend to overstress ourselves and become too inner-focused and insulated from our immediate needs and environs.

It is no great revelation that some folks are routinely able to handle stress better than others. They “chill,” as the kids’ say, when the going gets tough. This is not a treatise on how to deal with stress (I’ll tackle that subject in a future article). However, I do want to offer one possible solution for coping with everyday tension and frustration. It’s called volunteerism.

Before you stop reading, and move on to another column, please indulge me by considering the validity of my statement as it applies to your own lives. It appeared as if I was burning both ends of the candle for the past 30+ years. I was working 2,3, or even 4 jobs, and getting about half of the recommended sleep each night, until the weekend (if I was not on duty) and literally collapsing into bed. I was the proverbial “driven” individual. It was nice to make ends meet, with a little more for a lot of eating out ventures. I was not (and am still not) wealthy, but I was busy, and as I found out later on, at the expense of both my health as well as at the loss of quality time with my family.

A friend suggested that I put aside some of the busy work, and do some more rewarding activities such as serving as a volunteer. The rest is history. I’ve since given up all but part-time work, and am focused on being a volunteer for several organizations. To make a long story short, by becoming a volunteer I felt renewed and personally enriched. I’ve learned to appreciate myself more by being energized by others. I’ve gained new perspectives gleaned from “giving something back.” I met new people and was able to network with folks I would probably have never encountered, and at this age, have actually learned to hone my interpersonal skills. But most of all I feel as if I matter. I benefited from the experiences (and continue to do so), and have made a difference. I jumped out of the workaday world to discover what Michael Harrington called in the l960’s, “How the Other Half Lives.”

I am a better person for being a volunteer. If you can spare a few hours or more a month, there are many organizations and programs that can use you. Check your local paper or agencies to see if you qualify for any one of many volunteer opportunities. It sure helped me.

              - The Clutterman

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