My Journey into Volunteering
As a younger man, I never thought of myself as someone who would volunteer. I always thought, “Why work for free when you can be paid?”
However, after I retired, I found myself doing some volunteer work. Recently, I read a quote from Buddhist monk Haemin Sunim that made me think about the unexpected benefits I’ve received from volunteering: “Even if you have other motives for volunteering, in the process of helping out and connecting with people you may discover the meaning of life and of happiness.” The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World.
I’m sure that I’ve had some self-serving motives for volunteering. In my current volunteer role with the National Park Service, I wear a uniform and get to talk about the Air Force (I was in the Air Force for 33+ years). But I’ve benefited in ways I didn’t anticipate. Connecting with and helping others has made me happier and given me some wisdom.
From Arizona to South Dakota: My Volunteer Experiences
Since retiring, I’ve volunteered for two different organizations. In one way, I hesitate to write about this. I don’t want to be perceived as a bragging, show-off, “Look at how great I am!” ass. Instead, I trust readers will give me the benefit of the doubt and accept these as illustrations.
1. Not long after moving to Arizona in 2015, my wife Lanette and I volunteered to serve in the Sun City West Sheriff’s Posse. We patrolled our community, acting as the eyes and ears of the Sheriff’s Office, assisting officers by doing non-law enforcement functions like traffic control, welfare checks, and vacation home watch.
We watched out for others in need while on patrol and doing welfare checks. Sometimes, we made a difference in people’s lives.
One night, while patrolling in the winter, I found a woman who had fallen in her darkened garage and couldn’t get up. She had called for help for several hours, but no one heard. I had driven by her home, realized the garage door was open, and backed up to investigate. Using my flashlight, I saw her lying on the floor. I called the fire department and directed a medical crew to care for her.
One sweltering summer night, I checked on a woman who had come home from surgery the day before to a house with no air conditioning where she lived alone. When I got there, she was so severely dehydrated that she couldn’t even get up from the sofa to answer the door. I could see her lying on the sofa and hear her making sounds. The EMTs who I called told me that she likely wouldn’t have survived the night. That’s when I first realized just how vital our often-boring work was.
2. Several months after moving from Arizona to South Dakota, I became a volunteer at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site. I welcome visitors to the visitor center, educate and orient them to the history of the Minuteman Missile Program and the Cold War, and also give tours of a preserved Launch Control Facility.
The Unexpected Benefits of Volunteering
1. Unexpected Personal Growth and Fulfillment
I’ve received much more from the volunteer experience than I ever expected. It’s pushed me to grow in directions I never planned, which have all been for the good. I’ve enjoyed helping out.
I’ve always had service-oriented careers, but when I volunteer, somehow it’s different. When you’re not being paid for your work, there’s a heightened sense of service, of doing something for people other than myself.
It fits with ancient Stoic values, which hold that we all have a duty to engage with and help others. Serving others feels good and is just a natural response to volunteering. It allows us to rise above our self-serving, I’m-the-center-of-the-universe culture.
2. Building Connections Despite My Introversion
I’ve also enjoyed connecting with people. As a strong introvert, I have few friends and enjoy spending time alone.
As a result of volunteering, I’ve developed new relationships with staff members. That happened in the Posse, where some people became good friends. It’s also happening now at the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site.
I’ve learned how to engage and connect with people from all over the country and world as they visit the Minuteman Missile NHS. Since I want visitors to feel welcome and learn about our Site, I proactively reach out to them. Not my typical introverted behavior!
Due to my work at the Minuteman Missile NHS, I’m now more open to greeting and talking with strangers I encounter around town. It’s made a positive difference in my life.
Finding Your Volunteer Path
There are unlimited opportunities for volunteering. And not all of them involve large amounts of time. My wife works just two hours each Saturday morning at our public library, helping to shelve books and pull books for reserve. Volunteering doesn’t have to be a full-time job.
Where can you volunteer? Almost every public service organization relies on or uses volunteers. Food banks, soup kitchens, community centers, and non-profits are all options. You don’t even have to join a group to volunteer–you could regularly pick up trash at a park, cut back brush from a trail, or maybe even write a blog.
You might want to find something you’re already interested in, that appeals to you, or that uses your best skills. What skills or passions are you sitting on that could make a difference in someone’s life?
Volunteering isn’t just about giving time; it’s about discovering the unexpected joy of connecting with others. Take the first step and contact organizations you might be interested in to ask about volunteer opportunities. Don’t wait for the perfect moment—take a small step today. Whether it’s an hour at a local shelter or helping out at a library, you might find more than you expected.