Help Yourself and Others by Mentoring and Volunteering

By David Maillie

We see and hear about them every day - Charity runs, walks for Breast Cancer, Dinners, Golf outings, etc... These events raise needed money for research, medical expenses and expensive treatments, to provide medical care to underprivileged people, and for disaster relief among other things. These are all great endeavors, the problem is that no one person can donate to all of them and some funnel a higher percentage of funds to their recipients. The best way around this is to volunteer and give a little of your time to the cause of your choice.

As the saying goes - "If you give someone a fish, you feed them for a day. If you teach them how to fish, you feed them for a lifetime." Everyone has knowledge, abilities and experience they can pass on to help others. For instance, Habitat for Humanity provides a nice home and a better community to people who could not afford it, but are willing to put in some sweat equity. Several charities provide counselors for drug rehab, family problems and even credit counseling. Big Brother is a great organization that provides a mentor to kids of all races that need a father or extra parental figure as they don't have one. You don't have to even volunteer with a large charity, you can do it on your own.

There are thousands of nursing homes with elderly residents that would absolutely love to have someone come and talk to them for just an hour or two. Many of these nursing home residents have little or no visitors and are very lonely. The Orange County Choppers family, famous for their show on Discovery Channel, went and played bingo with the residents at a local nursing home and made a big difference in their lives. It also made them feel better helping these people. That is what happens when you volunteer - by helping others you help yourself.

It has been proven that people who donate their time and help others by volunteering have lower stress rates, lower blood pressure, and live longer. It just makes you feel good to know that you had a positive effect on someone else’s life. The 20th century prophet Edgar Cayce hinted at the meaning of life and our future has to do with helping others and becoming fulfilled and happy therefore helping ourselves in the process.

Regardless of your beliefs and choice of charity or method, volunteer and make a difference in someone’s life. Could you imagine what the world would be like if everyone volunteered just 1 hour a week? Take the time to volunteer and help others and make the world and your world a better place.