Find your why through volunteering

 “There’s nothing stronger than the heart of a volunteer.” – Jimmy Doolittle

 

What is your why? What is your passion? What motivates you to get out of bed in the morning? What is it that you desire or get really excited about?

For many people, a job or hobby is the answer to these questions. Others will say family and/or friends. Some people won’t consciously think about these things. They just get up and methodically go through the motions of the day.

All of us have something that drives us and gives us purpose in life. Most of us have several things – God, family, work that we love, a life to build, things to create and experience. All of these things are great, but they don’t mean much if we’re doing them just for ourselves. The best thing you can do is to do something for someone else.

There is nothing like the experience of making someone smile, knowing you have made them happy or eased their pain in some way. That experience is even sweeter if it’s done without personal gain or profit. That is how I define volunteerism. Volunteering comes in many different forms. It could be something as simple as helping someone out in a pinch or a long-time commitment to serve an organization.

There are about as many ways to volunteer as there are volunteers. It can be a one-off like buying coffee for the next person in line at the coffee shop, holding a door for someone, or helping a stranded motorist fix a flat tire. Maybe you make a monthly time commitment to volunteer with a favorite charity or your church. It could be an annual event like ringing bells for The Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Campaign or helping with a food or toy drive.

Some of the most enjoyable volunteer experiences involve membership in a nonprofit organization, such as a church, the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, FFA, 4-H, Aggie Moms, Rotary, Lions, community theater, reenactments groups, historical associations, state park volunteer groups, military organizations (VFW, American Legion), and such.

There are numerous nonprofits that don’t require membership that need volunteers including Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army, United Way, American Red Cross, YMCA, animal rescues and shelters, educational foundations, homeless shelters, youth camps, museums, humanitarian organizations, groups with a medical focus, and so on. There is a great list of local charities on the BCS Chamber’s website at www.bcschamber.org.

Right now, the Brazos Valley Food Bank and its partner food pantries are practically begging for volunteers, especially with the government shutdown. Demands for their services are skyrocketing and they need help.

Local governments and school districts are also in need of volunteers to work on boards and committees. Sometimes these positions can be a stepping stone to job or career opportunities. A lot of elected officials started out serving on committees and boards. If public service as an elected official doesn’t appeal to you, maybe you can volunteer to help someone run for office.

Another way to help is by donating blood. The American Red Cross and Gulf Coast Blood Center are always needing donors.

Sandy and I have always been active volunteers in one thing or another. We raised our children to be volunteers and to have a heart for serving others. During times when we didn’t have much money, we always found that we had time to give.

One of the things I’ve learned over the years is that volunteering is mutually beneficial. The people you help clearly benefit from your service, but the joy you receive in return is priceless.

I’m reminded of the quote by Zig Ziglar that, “You can have everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.” That means putting other people first. Volunteering with a selfish motive isn’t volunteering, it’s manipulation. You have to genuinely care about others and see to their needs.

Doing that is what keeps me motivated in my job and in my volunteer positions. It’s what gets me out of bed and drives me through even the most difficult of days. At bedtime, I take comfort in knowing that someone’s life is better because I chose to make a difference.

It may be that you have a job that you’re not excited about, or perhaps no job at all. You can still find energy and passion in a volunteer position that will help give you meaning and a reason to roll out of bed each morning. Find your why and do it!