Being of service

This week is National Volunteer Week. This only makes me think of how I am of service. I have enjoyed being on different non profit Board of Directors, volunteering for specific events, and currently I joined forces with the taproot foundation as a pro bono consultant. So many services and non profits grow and thrive because of their volunteers. In fact, volunteers are always needed in so many different capacities within many community based and non profit organizations.

The service part of our lives highlights our values and beliefs. Naturally, volunteering with an organization that you believe in is enough of an incentive for you to continue to participate in being of service. When you choose to volunteer, you usually do so free from expectations of whatever/whomever you are serving. Sometimes, your involvement may start off as an obligation and once you get introduced to the experience, your motivations may shift.

Volunteer work is a great way to continue to explore your passions and purpose. It is a great way to network and get to know a certain industry. It is also a great way to gain experience for your career and personal growth. The greatest benefit of all is that you feel good while you are giving back. It just feels nice to help others. Knowing that volunteers will step forward and promoting being a volunteer is why organizations like the Taproot Foundation and New York Cares exist and are hugely successful.

The first time I joined a non profit Board of Directors, it changed my life and how I looked at my career. As my leadership evolved, I took on more responsibility and eventually became the Board Chair. I started as a board member, then headed a committee, then planned a number of events. The benefits to being a volunteer are endless. Now, I am on the board of an organization in which I completed one program as a participant and initiated another program as a project manager. As a formal participant, I believe this is an opportunity to bring a unique perspective to the leadership of the organization.

Another incentive to volunteering can be to bring community together. Whether it is volunteering as a family and/or with a group of friends, it can be an occasion where you can spend time with loved ones and do something positive at the same time. We are actually wired for service. Whether you are a lawyer, nurse, and/or teacher, everyone is of service to a cause, group, person, and/or clients/customers. We function to serve. How are you of service? Being a volunteer usually gives us a break from the usual service we provide. Think about how you are of service to others. Be sure to volunteer when you are able and willing. And most of all, be sure that you are being of service to yourself, too.