Today, 5th of December, the global community marks the International Volunteer Day (IVD). But, as is the spirit of volunteerism, the IVD does not only celebrate the efforts of those who selflessly help others and the impact their actions have on their communities, it strives to guide others and to promote participation in volunteering as well. So the best way to join this celebration of helping others is by actually helping others.
Why Should You Become a Volunteer?
The first reason you should become a volunteer is because you are given the chance to help people, animals and the environment. But volunteering is not only about giving. It’s also about receiving. Well, not in the traditional sense that we are used to putting into the word anyway. It doesn’t pay (duh!), but it is still very rewarding. It is rewarding in the sense that you make new friends, boost your social skills, which will definitely come in handy for those job interviews, and most importantly, it gives you the opportunity to shape the world you want to live in. In a world where diseases are a threat that goes beyond national borders and pollution threatens our very existence, we need to pull ourselves together and do something about it. And volunteering is the way to do it. Volunteering gives you the chance to help others and help yourself, to really make a difference.
Dedicating yourself to volunteering makes a great impact on you too because helping others helps you grow as a person. You will learn to be more social and communicate your ideas much better. Quite naturally, you will also become more sociable, and confident. But most importantly, making a real difference in people’s life and helping those who cannot help themselves will give you a sense of accomplishment. Not many people know that but volunteering could also help you keep in shape. That is especially true for older people. Scientific studies have shown that volunteering can ease chronic pain and lessen symptoms of heart conditions.
How to Make Volunteering a Way of Life?
That one is quite simple. People are social animals so once you see how fun volunteering is you wouldn’t want to quit for anything. It goes without saying that if you are truly committed to the cause, you’ll find the time. The hard part is actually finding a cause you really care about. And don’t get me wrong, this is not because of the lack of opportunities, but rather because of their abundance. Pick the one you’re most interested in and go for it.
The More the Merrier
Make an effort, gather your friends and relatives, and do something good for your community. I for one intend to spend this 5th of December with a bunch of friends I met volunteering in Sydney, cleaning up and conserving the beautiful Australian environment. So pick a cause and give back your fair share. As Albert Schweitzer said, wherever a man turns he can find someone who needs him. Words that unfortunately enough sound even more true today.
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