Started Doing Volunteer Work Today

I know a man who is now very successful in his business and with his family. He described how he was once an alcoholic and suicidal. Someone convinced him to try helping someone else before he gave up on life. He did not think that he had anything to offer but decided to try and help people instead of use them. An amazing transformation took place he said, he outgrew the addictions , really enjoyed helping people who were floundering in life. His business began to flourish even though he gave most of his time away gratis. His family came back together because of his
newly learned ability to love.

His story told to me on a day long business trip was a very special thing. about four years later he developed early onset alzheimers and is on the receiving end of the loving relationships that he nurtured.

What goes around comes around can have a positive side..

Great job David

I am certain everyone appreciates your help.

Cheers,
Rich

Dale,
I did lots of hospital and nursing home visitation work years and years ago when I lived up in New England, and even did some Rescue Mission work in my Dallas, Tx years. Right now, its helping my own self esteem by do the little bit that I am. I was tired of feeling like a patient, in particular a cancer patient, and without any regular job to fill in my time and fill my head with facts/figures as before, it's a big help to me.

BTW, I don't know if it will be for a day, a week, or a month, but my ex-boss is going to use me again on some kind of consulting basis starting next Wednesday afternoon.

All my best to you, my brother.

Rob, let's hope that one good deed begets another. I am sure that medical center could use you and a hundred others, keep me posted.

thanks, kcragman

what you are doing would be very fulfilling too, and has a good social cause for sure. each of us has our own way of reaching out. you have gone through your own battle too here, brother, but with all your zeros, you are looking good, hope you stay that way.

its funny, despite my medical events, i don't feel like cancer(s) have ever stopped me from working, i was out of work shortly before the pc dx, what i feel, is the age bias starting work in place. at 56, with almost 30 years of experience, there are too many people in their late 30s to mid 40s that can do what I can do. it's a silent kind of prejiduce, but still hits you the same way as any other.

david

Tony, it sickens me to think we live in a country that has so much for so many, yet there is this increasing army of homeless, sick, and hungry. There is no excuse (staying politically neutral here) in anyone going hungry or sleeping under an underpass in this country.

The food pantries here ,the soup kitchens, local rescue missions, like yours, are quickly running out, yet the lines grow longer.

When I was young and single, back when dinosaurs roamed the earth, I knew first hand what it was like to sleep in the backseat of a $200 used VW bug, eat every other day, etc, back when the unemployment rate was over 20% in places. I think sometimes, to truly understand suffering and the needy, you have to have been there.

Glad you have your way to reach out, wishing you only the best, my brother.

David in SC

David...what a great thread, and you are certainly doing (dare I say..God's work)....sorry if I offended anyone....but that is what I think. In helping others we really enrich our own lives.... We have a therapy dog, and I take him to nursing homes....He goes up to the Alzheimer's patients and they smile and pat him and then talk about their former dogs...It is quite amazing to see a smile all of a sudden light up a sad face... He also does "Paws for Reading" at the local first grade. He sits with the little kids while they are learning to read... This yellow lab dog was a rescue. He was a breeder dog in a puppy mill and was in a cage for years....Now he is so grateful to be free to walk around and be loved that he is our "little angel in a fur coat" He has brought such joy to our family. Diane

Hello to all; I volunteer at a dog rescue, when I was laid up I really missed the walking I did with the dogs, it's a small thing but important to me.
Another aspect of the whole experiance is a deeper appreciation for what others go through everyday of their lives. I had a catheter in for 2 weeks and hated every second of it. I know there are people who live with one 24/7, and many many things much worst.
All the friends and family that kept in touch from day one, would I have been as attentive to anothers needs?
I guess maybe the last 3 months have been a learning experiance...maybe a good thing.
Later.

Down Not Out - Just a note about rescue dogs:

We are on our 2nd rescued retired racing greyhound. These are magnificent animals - they are the most quiet, gentle large dog you can have. Yes, they like to run 40 mph for about 45 seconds a day, and the rest of the time they would prefer to be laying down. (They don't usually make good watch dogs.) The last stats I heard were that about 14,000 greyhounds are put down each year, and about the same number are rescued. Their life is - born & raised in a cage until 18 months, then they get 3 races. If they don't win, place or show in any of the races they are put down. If they DO, they race until they don't make money anymore - then they are put down.

They are a bit of a struggle at first because they are COMPLETELY unfamiliar with residential life. They only know cage-truck-track, and track-truck-cage. But they are really sweet dogs who deserve a bit of a retirement after a sometimes brutal life. If anybody is thinking about getting a dog, I would recommend checking out a rescue greyhound. (The only down side is that trying to give them a hug is like hugging a bag of bones - they ARE totally ripped athletes when they arrive.)

End of public service announcement -
kcragman

purgatory, thanks for such a great post. I have flirted with the idea of doing volunteer work and after reading this I am making a call to Habitat for Humanity this morning. It is something I have wanted to do but never got around to it, but your post has inspired me to take action. I am a Respiratory Therapist and take great pride in helping those in need, even if it is not my job, I try to give 110% to the patients/families I am with, and can say that after my PC, I enjoy my work even more, and find great comfort in being able to empathize with them. Thank You

Randy

Randy, the work you do for a living would have be rewarding in itself, just as my wife as a Nurse. Habitat for Humanity is a great cause, I am real interested in the group here, recently applied to be its Financial Director locally.

Sephie - what you do is great work also.

There are countless ways to help others, and it does take your mind off your own troubles, and no matter how depressed I get, everyday, I am among people much worse off in every possible way. It kind of acts as a check and balance system with my emotional state. I don't think it matters what you do, but anything you do for others, is a step in the right direction of showing our humanity.

I am pleased what has started out as a simple post, has now motivated a few of you, and perhaps a few others are thinking in that direction, you never know. It all started with me having way too much time on my hands, tending to over magnify my own problems, fighting mental boredom. While the volunteer work I am doing is almost completely mindless to what I normally do for a living, I enjoy the change, I like seeing the little smiles and glimmers of excitement because this goofy man (me) is pushing people down halls in wheelchairs to go play bingo or to watch a movie. It's something at least, and I get some exercise I would probably be avoiding, so its a win win.

I could think of some appropriate scripture to end this with, but I know it wouldn't be allowed.

David in SC