By Tinashe Zvakasikwa
Johannesburg, South Africa (News Of The South) – Lately, I’ve been noticing an increasing variety of posts and notices of “Volunteers wanted/ needed” or something along those lines. From my perspective, the number of them seems to be greater than normal. I suppose it could be seen as a good sign, that there is hope for those who are in need of jobs and those who want to move on to something more appealing.
Although scarce in this part of the world, jobs are often considered an important part of who we are. Very often they define us, perhaps more than they should. When asked “who are you?”, we often begin with an explanation of what we do for a living, which, when you think about it, doesn’t really say a lot about us. Someone once said to me, the only reason why they would ask what you do for a living is so that they can rate you and measure the amount of respect they should give you. Absurd.
To inform another that we are a teacher, an electrician, a banker, journalist, banker or any other number of professions says little about whether we are kind or compassionate, sour or unfeeling. If you really want to know something about who a person is, you may want to find out something about what they do in their spare time. What are their interests away from the job, what brings them joy, what fulfills them?
Sometimes it is a job itself that fulfills people, which can be both a good and bad thing. If you enjoy your work enough to look forward to it every day, you may be considered fortunate – until the day you retire and aren’t sure what to do with yourself anymore. One place to gain a variety of free work experiences is to work with a volunteer organization, such as a church, bible study group, a shelter, or a food bank.
Most such places are always looking for people and, in return for labor, are willing to give you a variety of experiences such as public speaking, singing, food preparation, teaching, audio-visual presentations, bookkeeping, and management skills to mention a few.
I find many people think of their employment as being a way to make enough to get by and fund other interests they have in life. So employment in their case is simply a stepping stone for finding some joy. They may not especially like what they do, and at times may feel chained down for the sake of a salary. So if you are down on yourself because you cannot quite land the job you want, volunteering at an orphanage might make you realize that the job is not everything, nor is it really all that significant.
In the process of helping others, you could possibly be helping yourself discover the talents and gifts you never knew you had. Maybe you ended up as an accountant when you really had an interest in teaching. Or maybe you are a nurse who really has a knack for building houses. The only way to find out whether or not you are good at something is to do it consistently, and, if your career path at the moment does not include the area in which you think you need to grow, consider volunteering in that area. It could do a lot of good.
Also, social interaction makes you feel connected to others, which staves off loneliness and depression. Volunteering also makes you feel effective because you’re making a difference in people’s lives. It boosts your self-esteem because you’re living up to your idea of the best version of yourself. Feeling good about yourself can lift your mood. You will gain an experience that you couldn’t find anywhere else, as well as a chance to try out another line of work, perhaps even finding something interestingly more fulfilling.
Another benefit to volunteering is the feeling one gets from giving of their time. You become more aware that you can make a difference in the lives of others. You gain a deeper appreciation of how blessed your life actually is. You learn new things about yourself and about others. A sense of purpose and meaning is cultivated.
Do not let yourself only be defined by what you do for paid employment. If you feel you need to change, but don’t know how to seek out a volunteer organization. If you are looking for something fulfilling in your retirement, or a way to increase skills in an area of interest, or a place to take away some loneliness, a volunteer community may be just what you are looking for.
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