How To Give Your Life Meaning….Instantly

“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good therefore that I can do or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again” ~Mahatma Gandhi

Written by Kevin Tyler Smith. You can follow me on Twitter or Facebook

It was an overcast day in April when I embarked on a journey that figuratively and literally took me to a place I wasn’t sure I was prepared for.

This journey took me to the stark realization of how desperately my community and the world is in need.  Of how much the world needs the hands of the able and how much people need love.

That Spring day, my father and I were joined by a band of brothers to restore the habitat of an elderly widow’s dwelling that had severely fallen to neglect.  Her neglect was not voluntary but circumstance.

The main thing I wasn’t prepared for was the condition of her house.  Thousands of questions flooded my mind of how could someone live in such squalor?

Clarity Prevails

Thankfully through the mentoring of our band of brothers and the fellowship we formed that day, clarity prevailed. I was convinced that some people, through no fault of their own, have different responses to the cards they have been dealt.

The Connection

We diligently worked that day from sun up to sun down.  On hand, we had just about every every area of expertise, from landscaping, carpentry to electricians.  I wasn’t sure how everyone would be able to work efficiently together without getting in each other’s way.

But you know what? We made it work.  At day’s end, this lady had a brand new house practically.

Through this experience of getting my hands dirty for the cause, something else came to fruition. This was the connection my father and I formed.  We had never worked side by side on such a project that would affect someone’s life in a very positive way.  To me, this was earth moving – so powerful to form a unique bond with my father while changing someone else’s life.  It’s an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my life. I’m sure Dad will too….Very cool.

The Unique Intangible Rewards Of Volunteering

Donating your time enriches the human spirit. It shows generosity and willingness to be part of something good even if you are working full days and have personal obligations of your own.

Its time to become aware and conscious of the benefits of giving of your time. You can be like me and walk away with a very rewarding and life changing experience:

1. You Become Part of a Group - Volunteering will allow you to meet new people who work and volunteer for a certain cause. Not only are you providing others the opportunity to avail of your help and support for free, but you are also gaining the benefit for times when you may need the help of others. According to studies, volunteers also receive help from their own groups or volunteer circles because the act of giving and generosity is exchanged within the group. You can find some of the most genuine individuals in a volunteer group. You also get to reap the rewards of open opportunities for business, work, and social fellowship.

2. Life Has Meaning - Volunteering means that you believe in a certain cause and act toward it. Your life will suddenly have a renewed meaning translating to personal positive habits making you a more disciplined, helpful and sensitive individual. You get to know how other people feel in certain conditions and get to offer help whenever needed. As a volunteer, you let go of your own personal comfort and privileges to give to others. You become a guiding light to people who are not as fortunate as you.

3. You Avoid Boredom - Volunteering allows you to go through several programs and exercises which can easily get rid of boredom. Usually, rich and retired individuals love to volunteer because it gives them a sense of capacity and lets them work during time when they feel obsolete or bored. You can engage in several activities like feeding programs, putting out flyers and posters or holding concerts and other endeavors for your cause. Being assigned to big tasks and traveling abroad in other countries is a possibility as well.

4. You Enjoy Family Time More – Compassion becomes a habit. Because of this compassion exercised in volunteer activities and programs it’s only natural to translate to your family relationships. In regards to your family and friends, you can also bring more of them into the network and share the joy of giving and generosity. This provides an opportunity for you to teach and educate them on the meaningful values by volunteering.

The Ultimate – Courageous Volunteers Saving Our Lives

The World Needs You

I don’t have the answers to ALL that’s needed locally or globally nor do I have a list of every organization in the world but I’m giving you a good place to start right here with Volunteer Match.

Here are some of my personal favorites:

Hands On Disaster Response - http://hodr.org

Habitat For Humanity - http://www.habitat.org

Animal Shelters - http://www.animalshelter.org

Healthcare Volunteer - http://healthcarevolunteer.com

American Red Cross - http://www.redcross.org

Foster Parenting - http://www.aspiranet.org

Volunteer Firefighter Support - http://www.nvfc.org

Nobody ever said volunteering was easy.  It can be tough sometimes but it is definitely a fulfilling adventure.

Renew your life’s meaning today.

Lend Your Time – Lend Your Resources – Spread Your Love – The World Needs You

I would love to hear about some of your rewarding volunteer moments?  More importantly, what did you learn from the experience?

____________

Enjoy this article?, get Promethean updates straight to your inbox.  Also, please “share this” with your friends on Facebook, Stumbleupon, Digg, etc. and “tweet” to your followers on Twitter. They will love you for empowering them.

P.S. Quit your day job