It\u2019s that time of year again!\u00a0 It seems regardless of our age or status in life, the New Year reminds us that there is always room for improvement.\u00a0 Throughout history we have chosen the New Year to start over, lose weight, exercise, eat better or just become a better person.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Research tells us that New Year\u2019s resolutions last about five months at most.\u00a0 Why? What happens? Are our goals not realistic? A better approach might be to think about the \u201cgolden rule\u201d and spend some time recalling how it has worked in your life. Use the New Year as an opportunity to start living \u201cone day at a time.\u201d What can we do to make each day count?<\/p>\n
Often, when we take the emphasis off ourselves and concentrate on others, things seem to fall into place. Some say it\u2019s the natural flow of positive energy \u2026 and volunteering is a great place to start!<\/p>\n
There are always excuses for not volunteering — I\u2019m too old, my body aches, I can\u2019t drive, my vision is bad, or the weather is bad. You might think volunteering means we have to get up and go somewhere at a certain time on a certain day. Some of us can do that, and that\u2019s great. But what about those who can\u2019t? What can we do for others when we are already depending on others ourselves?<\/p>\n
You may need someone to drive you to the grocery or to a doctor appointment, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t make phone calls or share a cheery smile. Who doesn\u2019t enjoy picking up the phone to hear a friendly voice? Think about how you feel when you get a call of caring instead of a sales pitch. Remember phones are still more personal than computers.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re lucky enough to be able to do more, think about what gives you joy. This may take some time, but the results are better than weight loss. We all need to fill our cup. Is yours half full or half empty? What can you do about it? Volunteer!\u00a0 It\u2019s guaranteed to fill your cup.\u00a0 It may take a while to find the right fit, but it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n
Where do you start? First, spend some time thinking about what gives you joy. What and who does that involve? Then try a few things on for size. No one asks you to commit for life. Change is good and rewarding. You may need to start simple and infrequent and see what happens. You will know when it\u2019s right.<\/p>\n
Here are a few places to look for volunteer opportunities:<\/strong><\/p>\n