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In an earlier blog called Surviving the Wait, I shared the story of how volunteering helped me to survive my wait time. This is a quote from that blog:
One day, I heard some very good advice. Somebody had called into a talk radio show seeking help for her depression. The talk radio host asked, “What have you done for someone else lately?” She went on to say that the best way to pull yourself out of a depression is to take the focus off of your own pain by doing something of value to help another person.
Choosing to mentor a child was the single most important thing I did to lessen my misery during my wait. I spent so much time wallowing in my depression; it was when I committed to mentoring a child that I started to see some value in this time of my life.
This time is going to pass whether you spend it crying or whether you spend it doing something of value to help another person. I strongly recommend that you throw some of your energy into helping someone else while you wait. If you do, then you will be able to look back at all of the good you accomplished while you were waiting for your child. Now that I am a parent, I do not have as much time to invest in some of the volunteer activities I did during my waiting period. The season of life to invest in those activities is NOW.
There are many ways that you can help others. Some require only a small time commitment; others require significantly more time. Choose something that you enjoy. The options are almost endless.
Volunteer Opportunities at Local Schools
Any school can find something for you to do. You don’t have to have a child enrolled at the school to help out. Some needs that most schools have include…
- Beautifying the grounds (gardening)
- Lunch buddies & mentors
- Organizing and filing (front office and library)
- Tutors (reading with children, practicing writing, math)
Volunteer Opportunities with Religious Groups
Religious groups, such as churches, have lots of volunteer opportunities, including…
- “Adopting” a grandparent (spending time with a lonely older person)
- Habitat for Humanity (building homes for people of limited means)
- Meals on Wheels (providing meals to shut-ins)
- Soup kitchens
- Sunday school classes
- Youth groups
Volunteer Opportunities with Individual Charities
You can also help out with individual charities and groups, such as Hospice, the American Red Cross, or even your local library. You don’t have to look far to find a way to help another person. As you help another person, you will realize that you are helping yourself in the process.
I volunteered with a hospice program while waiting for my second child.
My daughter (then 2) and I visited weekly with Edna. I feel wonderfully blessed to have shared such a mystical time with her.
Being present at the end side of life’s parentheses helped me to keep the wait for the beginning side in perspective (if that makes any sense).
My son was born three days after Edna died.
That does make sense to me.
I am actively involved in Sunday School class in which most of the participants are old enough to be my parents. I love hearing their different perspectives on life. Being with someone at the end brings a whole new perspective to a beginning.
I am glad that volunteering was helpful to you as well during your waiting period.
Take care,
- Faith