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Sunday May 14, 2006

what he taught me

A huge part of why we volunteer is to help others. Knowing that people out there need our help, we step up to bat and get involved. We're there to help others. We don't expect to be helped.

I'd had a particularly rough year between my personal life (my dad had been killed in an accident three weeks after I'd moved back to Edinburgh) and my volunteer placement being challenging.

One morning a young man that I'd befriended for ages and ages cancelled on me due to illness and I was surprised at how I felt. I missed going out with him that afternoon. I started to really think about our befriending arrangment and soon realized that going out with him each week was a high point. It was always good to know there was going to be one part of the week that would be completely stressfree and fun.

I suddenly realized I needed his support almost as much as he needed mine. I also finally understood that saying, 'You get what you give.' He taught me to step back and look not only at what we give as volunteers, but at the unexpected gifts we receive as a result of volunteering.

Posted by Dana ( 9:21 PM )
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