Volunteering... Thoughts, Ideas, and Positive Stories
I have been down about having to take time off of school so I can heal, but I realized part of that healing process can come from volunteering! I have a big heart, and I've always had great Ideas for ways to help create better communities, and also ideas on how to reach those in need, but I never had the follow through. I am great at starting things, I just need some inspiration and motivation to keep at it. I think it is the same for many of you out there as well. You have a strength, and you want to use it volunteering but you're not quite sure where or how to use that strength. So this forum is to help everyone connect, boost each other up, and brainstorm effective ways to volunteer and make the world a better place:) There are so many ways to start up your own organizations, and outreach programs through technology, social media, word of mouth ect these days, I hope this forum can empower us! Share stories about a volunteer who helped you, or a volunteer opportunity you're interested in, or how you'd like to give back:) There's nothing that helps you heal faster than looking outside yourself, and being able to give to others in some way shape or form. Wishing you all, inspiration, motivation and happy healing:)
---luvtorun
@luvtorun
I love your enthusiasm! It is definitely contagious. :) You seem like someone who is very inspiring and I would love to get to know more about you. I think that someone who is a big volunteer would be all of the listeners on this website who put their heart into, their time into, and their life into helping others all throughout the world without receiving a single penny. This website has many inspiring leaders within it and this website is just going to get better and better over time. :)
Luvtorun, thank you for sharing this with us!
I, personally, feel that volunteering has eased my depression and anxiety. It cannot cure both of these, but I found in the act of volunteering a point in my life. It helps a lot when I'm dealing with depression, because even when my brain makes me believe that I have no reason to be alive, I remember that I actually have a point. Just my fragile brain cannot see that sometimes.
Also it lessens my otiose time. Don't get me wrong, I need time to be with myself, but if it's too long, it leaves me alone with the bad thoughts. So, for me, volunteering works as an awesome way of cohesion in life. Even though it isn't enough to cure me of my illnesses, they can lessen the effects over the time. Once you know your limits and the time that you need to stop in order totake care of yourself, volunteering can be a healthy fulfilling activity. :)
This is awesome! I'm so glad that volunteering is such a big part of your life. It can be so rewarding.
Personally, I find that being a listener here on 7 Cups helps me a lot. I love talking to people from all over the world and volunteering my time to listen. It makes me feel like I'm making a difference :)
Keep up the good work!
I have anxiety basically 24/7 (physical symptoms suck). The only thing I can do to ease the symptoms is to walk. But lately, I started volunteering with kids at a mental health organization. I work with kids with ADHD, autism, behavioural issues, etc. Anyways, I found that during my time there, I tend to forget about life, my problems, all my worries, everything. And I feel no anxiety for that time being. It's the best thing ever.
Volunteering has opened my eyes, and helped me step out of my pain in order to understand others struggles and help bring them up. I forget my anxiety when I volunteer and feel joy. I find myself working harder for free than when I'm getting paid, because I'm volunteering out of my heart and able to focus only on my goals to help with something else. I get out of my head, out of any anxious thoughts that swirl around and I am able to just be present in the moment when I'm volunteering. Right now I'm just signing up for weekend fundraising events such as the cf climb and the Polar plunge. I hope to start running 5 and 10ks for charity. My biggest goal is to create my own organization someday to help others and build a better community:)
Helping the community means helping myself; I am part of the community, thus I benefit.
I am so glad you've posted this; I am interested in seeing other peoples' responses. Kudos to you, Luv. :)
I absolutely love being a listener here on 7 Cups. Helping others makes me feel really good. I've been suffering with depression and anxiety for most of my life and I honestly feel better about myself when I can help someone else. This site has made me realize what I want to do with my life. I have a medical background but I'd like to attend school again to become a social worker. I absolutely love hearing people's stories and being able to relate to their emotions makes helping them fight through the walls so much better! Thank you to 7 Cups for giving me this life-changing experience and thank you to our guests for giving me the opportunity to make a difference. Xoxo
I think my favorite part about listening and volunteering is the feeling I get when I help someone. Even when I am going through things, myself, it helps me to put things in perspective and helps me figure out how to better my own life. Allowing me to help, helps me, in the long run....huck, it helps us all :) I just hope to be able to help as many people as I can!
This Is the best place to really help those in need of assistance all the while you learn from them.We are all here to help not judge, which is the part because you can really feel comfortable. And I personally love each one of you for having such big hearts,I wouldnt mind to take my time out of my day to help everyone I can its the best feeling I swear. If more people could help one another we would really be making such a huge difference:)
Volunteering helps me not to be a spoiled brat! It helps me to be be responsible and give back to my community in a positive way. If someone hadn't volunteered their time, energy or support for me at least one time in my life, who knows where I'd be. It's my goal to pay kindness forward and encourage others to do the same.
