The Joys of Volunteering

Anju Sharma - Volunteer

 "The heart of a volunteer is never measured by size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others." ~Deann Hollis

One mandatory aspect of my high school's program was that the students had to volunteer. So, several of us decided to volunteer at a retirement home. I was assigned to an elderly woman. She first asked me my name, and then talked about her life for the next 10-15 minutes. She asked my name again, and shared the same story about her life. She did this for the whole hour that I was there. I questioned myself why she was doing this as I did not know she had Alzheimer’s disease (a type of dementia that causes problems with memory). The one thing that I do remember very vividly was the joy that I felt being her companion for that hour. For several months afterwards, I would go back to this woman and joyously listen to her same repeated story. I realized then the impacts of volunteering had on me and that I wanted to do it for the rest of my life. Since then, I have been volunteering in different places, such as YMCA, hospitals, and more.

Finding the time to give back to the community provides multiple everlasting benefits, as listed below.

  • Give meaning to our life: By volunteering, it gives you a deeper meaning, and purpose in your life. You feel fulfilled because you are serving others with positive intentions. Your life will be enriched since you will have a greater sense of your place in the universe.  
  • Increase overall wellbeing: Many studies have shown that volunteering reduces stress, helps you live longer, and more! When you see that you are making a difference in someone's life, you definitely feel happier about yourself.  Thus your overall wellbeing improves. 
  • Develop further your skills: Whether you volunteer in a new role that you have no experience or in a role that nurtures your passions, you are learning something new and/or enhancing your skills.  
  • Be part of a community: You will be part of a great community that serves others. You will be interacting with individuals from all walks of life during your volunteering experiences, and it is common to become friends with them!

These are just a few benefits of volunteering. I highly encourage you to find volunteering opportunities that you are passionate about and excite you. This will open a path filled with joy, peace and more :).

 

REFLECTION

  • What has been your favorite volunteering experience so far?
  • Where would you like to volunteer next?

 

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