Be Selfish....VOLUNTEER!

I like to be surprised.

October 24th, 2014

I think we all do, at least in positive ways. My surprise? I was able to relearn how fun and important volunteering is.

I went to get a snack at the concession stand at my local soccer fields where I

was taking in a hot, early fall soccer match. The sounds of laughing kids,

yelling coaches, whistles, birds, and airplanes approaching the airport all

create an interesting background symphony that I have been enjoying for years.

I never minded the early morning dew, rain, chill, or screaming kids. I figured

that this is supposed to be the good part of life, right? Usually, as a parent,

you have to volunteer for at least one shift, or coach, or do something in a

recreational league. Not everybody gets that or cares about it, which always

leaves a gaping hole in the need vs. resources department in soccer, baseball,

or whatever your town’s recreational leagues are.

When I got to the concession stand, I discovered a long line. Peering in the

window, I saw an overworked cook and not much other help. I offered to help,

figuring that I had about 30-40 minutes before I had to leave and accomplish all

I set out to do with the day. People kept coming to the concession stand and I

fell into a groove. It felt great! I was having fun with the customers, trying

to do fast math in my head as I took money and doled out change, making more

fruit cups, stocking more beverages, and serving water as it was hot, humid, and

getting hotter. The cook’s name was Paul and he was amazing. No complaining,

just taking care of business. I figured that if Paul could volunteer, stand

next to the grill on a day like that, and never complain, then I had to have

fun. All of the parents, grandparents, coaches, and referees kept coming and

coming and coming. As it turned out, I ended up leaving a few hours later, as

the time easily flew by.

I went home and realized that all of my plans for the day weren’t really going

to work out since I gave most of my day to the snack shack. At night, I always

find a moment or two to think about my day and the next day, so I wake up with

focus. I realized that I really hadn’t accomplished what I set out to do with

my day off. I also realized that my volunteering “gig” ended up being the best

part of my day. I started to feel selfish about it, like I should have been

working more at home and not having so much fun at the field. But, if that’s

selfish, I need to sign up for more!

I have volunteered in many forms and in many places over the years: food

shelters, soccer coach, baseball coach, working on the sports fields, cub

scouts, robot coach... whatever I thought could make a difference in what little

time I have. The problem is that I haven’t done enough of this in the past

couple of years. Work and life have gotten in the way, and although I try to do

as much as possible for my family and step in here and there, I haven’t done

enough. My schedule is hard! After doing a little bit of online research, I

discovered an article on webmd.com that said that volunteering makes people

happier, which can lead to overall better health.

Every community can benefit from selflessness. In the U.S., we have focused so much on “me” instead of “we” in the past few decades. However, this trend is changing. In our  industry, team builders centered on benefitting the needy and conventions having early bird volunteering sessions or donations to local charities are becoming common. So, my message to you is to try and volunteer whenever and wherever you can. It’s a healthy activity that makes a very positive difference in people’s lives, including your own. Go ahead...Volunteer....BE SELFISH!

S