I have been having an internal argument with myself over my lack of volunteerism lately. I mean with one toddler and being pregnant I feel like I don't have time for myself, let alone strangers that I don't know. But there are other people that do and it makes me wonder if I am (or sometimes others) doing it for the right reasons. My husband tells me often that I have the best heart, and I don't know why he says it honestly. I just try to help others when I can.
When my husband was deployed it was easy to be at every single FRG function and help set up and run it. But I feel now that he's home I want to spend my time as family time. Is that wrong? Part of me feels selfish and the other part feels justified. My main question is where do you divide your time between helping others and helping your own family? It's not just the FRG that I like to help out, I like to do other things as well, when I wasn't pregnant I would donate blood every 6 weeks, I am always a sucker for the kids at St.Jude's, and I feel like I'm always getting rid of spare change or one dollar bills in those donation boxes by cashiers. I don't do it to promote my selfworth, but it feels good to help others that have less than I do.
With that being said I do know some people in other companies that have been very public about their "selflessness" and dedication to the FRG logging so many of their hours just so they can get the recognition. And those kind of people make me want to vomit. How hard is it to just be a nice person and a decent human being? If we were all selfless just once a month imagine how many people we could help.
For those of you that dedicate your time and money to helping others, I applaude you and look up to you. I hope to be more of a helper and less selfish. But mostly I want to teach my children to help those that need it. ♥
I am a volunteer coordinator for the USO here in Tampa, and I can't tell you enough how many times I have people "sign up to volunteer" and have other motives. Some do it to find a husband, some do it just to get out of work, some do it to add a cute little line on their resume, and yes, some even try to volunteer to fulfill their court appointed community service (blah). They are not at all interested in promoting the mission of the USO or helping the troops and their families. It does make me sick.
ReplyDeleteBut then you get people who do it for all the RIGHT reasons. They have a son or daughter deployed and they want to feel close to them. They were in the military and want to give back now, or their spouse was in the military and recently passed away and the USO makes them feel like they are contributing in their honor. Good is still out there! The trick is finding what is right for you ;-)
I am not anonymous? lol
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