Volunteer.
Everyone is passionate about something. For me, my passions are working with kids and helping out the environment. So, starting a Green Team at my daughter’s school was a perfect volunteer activity for me.
Some people have a passion for civic duty which leads them to volunteer politically. Others have a passion for construction which leads them to volunteer for Habitat for Humanity®.
There are so many places you can volunteer and so many things you can do. Right now, I am volunteering every week or two at my friend’s animal rescue. I work in the cat rooms cleaning up and spending time with the cats. Sometimes, my teenage son comes with me.
Volunteering is a great way to give back to the community and a great habit to start with your children. I wish I would have done more with them at a younger age. I did a lot of volunteering in their elementary school, but they do not always see the value in that. I have done a handful of things with them over the years, but that is definitely not as much as I should or could have done.
Time constraints are a big factor in volunteering. I work a 52.5 hour week in my home with the preschool/daycare. I still have the weekends and evenings, but usually during the work week, I like to chill out after the last kiddo leaves. Weekends are busy running errands and getting ready for the next week. So, if I want to volunteer, I have to make the time.
I firmly believe that if you want to do something bad enough, you will make the time to do it. I was passionate about recycling in the lunchroom at the school, so I figured out a way to do it. I did have to get a sub a few times, and I scheduled meetings for Green Team when I was available to meet in the evenings. I made it work. I was passionate about being involved in my kiddos school at the elementary level, so I joined PTA and was involved on the board for a few years. I loved being involved and knowing the ins and outs of what was going on at the school. I know school PTA’s do not get all the help they need, so that is a great place to start if you are looking to be involved and you have children.
Whatever your passion might be, try and find something that you can do that “gives back” to the community in some way. You will feel good after you volunteer, and whatever you do will be helping someone else, so that good feeling will be spread to others. Here are a few places to start if you need ideas: