Benefits of Volunteering

From reading tutors, home builders, to taking care of children and the elderly, most of us would agree, volunteers empower and inspire those they serve.

But is volunteering a one way street?  Are volunteers simply giving their time, expertise, and their services away?

Studies have shown the priceless benefits of service:

• Active participation in the community
• Learning and developing new skills, new interests, and hobbies
• Motivation and source of achievement
• Meeting diverse range of people
• New experiences (and more!)

Bottom line, we are social creatures.  We learn and thrive when we interact, collaborate, and serve others. (Full Story)

If you don’t want to commute, preferring to work from the comfort of your home office, online volunteering may be your calling (I didn’t know such a thing existed until now)!

Your presence, experiences, and expertise are priceless!  Volunteering is easy.  Start today!

“Live as if you were to die tomorrow.  Learn as if you were to live forever.” (Mahatma Gandhi)

Gotcha Gandhi.  I’ll start knocking some doors.  We’ll see what happens.  Wish me luck!

Jobless But Working!

Saw an interesting story on CNN last Sunday on how to handle the layoff blues — STAY BUSY, VOLUNTEER, STAY IN TOUCH WITH YOUR COMMUNITY!

The video clip showed laid off workers volunteering in soup kitchens, thrift stores, and other organizations.  Their upbeat, professional, empathetic demeanor was INSPIRING! Individuals continued to use their experiences and expertise while forming new bonds and connections with their community! (see also Land Your Dream Job Today!)

We can always choose to work — remain hopeful.  That’s what I’m going to do.  I’ll rise!

Healthy Mind, Healthy Spirit, Healthy Body!

“Individuals and organizations that can compete on generosity and fairness repeatedly defeat those that only do it grudgingly.“

That’s marketing guru Seth Godin’s message.

I’m no CEO, influential being, nor a high-powered exec climbing quickly up the corporate ladder.  I’m just a peon.

But if your beliefs are similar to mine, you’ll agree “What goes around comes around.”  Spread kindness and friendship; life becomes more beautiful.  Spread bitterness and animosity; life reflects ill-will.

Scientific research also supports moral actions.

According to WebMD, our bodies respond to our thoughts, emotions, and actions.  We can maintain our health by exercising, eating right, managing stress and doing the following:

Hold Positive Expectations

• Perceptions create reality.  Positive perceptions create positive reality.
• Send streams of affirmations (I am capable.  My joints are strong and flexible).
• Some things are beyond our control.  We can only do our best.  The glass is always half full.

Be Open to Humor, Relationship, and Love

• Laughter is the best medicine.  Laughter heightens our emotions and helps us see the brighter side of life.
• We are social creatures.  Close social ties and support help us recover from illness more quickly.
• Volunteer for causes higher and bigger than ourselves.  By helping others, we help ourselves.

Appeal to Higher Power

• If you believe in higher power, ask for guidance and support (faith, prayer, spiritual belief) in pursuit of healing and health (see healing touch and prayer).

It’s great to be with you all in the “school of life!”

Survivors’ Guide for Tough Times

You know we’re experiencing TOUGH economic times when the government begins laying off workers.

But why worry about what we can’t control.  Let’s focus on what we can control.  What can we do to ride out this storm?

Here are three quick tips:

• Stay positive – If we have clothes in our refrigerators, clothes on our backs, and roof over our heads,  we’re richer than 75 percent of this world!
• Help others — Helping others help take my mind off “me.”  According to Gandhi, “The best way to find yourself is to lose  yourself in the service of others.”
• Acknowledge small successes — I remembered to thank my coworker, I drank water instead of soda, I wrote a blog … success generates more success.

Seeking expert’s advice?  Check out Keep your job: A 10-Point Survival Guide:

1. Create success for yourself
2. Set 30-day and 60-day goals
3. Watch your attitude
4. Keep an active network
5. Update skills
6. Serve the larger goals of the organization
7. Forget work-life balance for now (no work, no play)
8. Take a hard look at your finance
9. Avoid gossip
10. In the knowledge economy, you are the product

Full Story