Today’s the last day of February, the month that’s known for Valentine’s Day, aka Single Awareness Day (“SAD”). Many of us who are not currently in long-term relationships have mixed feelings throughout this time of year. We have hope for future that is filled with a committed marriage, feel dismay at another Valentine’s Day without a wedding ring, and crave a way to meet someone to share a life with.
Most successful marriages are characterized by partners that share the same values. Keeping that in mind, here’s my newest idea: Service dating! No joke. What better way could there be to find that ‘right’ person to spend your life with? By engaging (pun intended) in volunteer service on a date, you can get a sense of what someone’s values are. It’s a great way to interact and learn about who someone really is.
Instead of sitting in a dark movie theater for two hours with someone you don’t even know, meet up at a local food bank and offer to help sort cans before going out to dinner. Lots of church groups have service events, and some employers have volunteer days as well. You never know who you’ll meet.
This definitely beats speed dating.
February 28, 2010
February 27, 2010
Volunteer Gear
If you’ve got a group of volunteers and are hosting a service event or fundraiser, it’s typical to order t-shirts with the name of your group or organization. This is a great way to thank your volunteers and show that you appreciate their efforts. It’s also a way to outwardly show solidarity for a cause that’s important to you. Whenever your volunteers wear the shirts to the grocery store or wherever they go, other people will see the service efforts that you’re involved with. So this can be an advertising investment for your service project as well.
The only challenge with t-shirts is that the cost per shirt can be expensive if you only need to make several. Sometimes there are minimum orders of 50 shirts or more, and this might be way more than you will ever need. It can also take a long time to have the shirt maker take your design and transfer it to your shirts. However, there are websites that can help with this. You can order small quantities of shirts and other items that you design on sites such as CafePress, Zazzle, and others. There are also other creative items that you can customize on these sites. The expense varies significantly depending on the object that you want to put your logo on.
Your volunteers will be lookin’ good in no time.
The only challenge with t-shirts is that the cost per shirt can be expensive if you only need to make several. Sometimes there are minimum orders of 50 shirts or more, and this might be way more than you will ever need. It can also take a long time to have the shirt maker take your design and transfer it to your shirts. However, there are websites that can help with this. You can order small quantities of shirts and other items that you design on sites such as CafePress, Zazzle, and others. There are also other creative items that you can customize on these sites. The expense varies significantly depending on the object that you want to put your logo on.
Your volunteers will be lookin’ good in no time.
February 26, 2010
Service and Your Self-worth
A lot of people lose sight of the fact that they’re still important even though they commit to serving others. George Eliot understood this,
“It is good to be helpful and kindly, but don't give yourself to be melted into candle grease for the benefit of the tallow trade.”
What does this mean? Be careful that you take care of yourself even if you’re taking care of the needs of others. It’s easy to devalue yourself, but this is not what service should be about. Giving to others is all about recognizing the greatness in yourself and also seeing that greatness in others.
You can certainly choose to make short-term sacrifices for someone else, but if you go too far it’s possible to melt down. This is becoming more and more common, particularly as people have to care for their elderly parents and their own children, not to mention working full-time.
The bottom line? Regularly appreciate your unique greatness and care for yourself in addition to the other people in your life. This way you’ll be able to keep giving and living a life you love.
“It is good to be helpful and kindly, but don't give yourself to be melted into candle grease for the benefit of the tallow trade.”
What does this mean? Be careful that you take care of yourself even if you’re taking care of the needs of others. It’s easy to devalue yourself, but this is not what service should be about. Giving to others is all about recognizing the greatness in yourself and also seeing that greatness in others.
You can certainly choose to make short-term sacrifices for someone else, but if you go too far it’s possible to melt down. This is becoming more and more common, particularly as people have to care for their elderly parents and their own children, not to mention working full-time.
The bottom line? Regularly appreciate your unique greatness and care for yourself in addition to the other people in your life. This way you’ll be able to keep giving and living a life you love.
February 25, 2010
Who is Gandhi?
Who is Gandhi?
Sure, you’ve seen all of the inspirational quotes. But when it comes down to actually explaining what he did, could you give a good answer? I couldn’t. Beyond the basics, I didn’t really have an idea. I guess we skipped that chapter in my world history class!
So who was Gandhi? Here’s the 101 version:
Born in 1869, Mahatma Gandhi was a leading political and spiritual figure in India throughout the Indian independence movement. His biggest claim to fame was that he used civil disobedience to resist the rule of tyranny. He was followed by large numbers of people in India, and the result of this nonviolent movement was the independence of India. Gandhi led campaigns across India to expand economic self-reliance, decrease poverty, support women's rights, and end the traditional practice of untouchability. In addition, his methods have served as inspiration for leaders throughout the world who are being suppressed.
So that’s who Gandhi was. Good to know.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”-Mahatma Gandhi
Sure, you’ve seen all of the inspirational quotes. But when it comes down to actually explaining what he did, could you give a good answer? I couldn’t. Beyond the basics, I didn’t really have an idea. I guess we skipped that chapter in my world history class!
So who was Gandhi? Here’s the 101 version:
Born in 1869, Mahatma Gandhi was a leading political and spiritual figure in India throughout the Indian independence movement. His biggest claim to fame was that he used civil disobedience to resist the rule of tyranny. He was followed by large numbers of people in India, and the result of this nonviolent movement was the independence of India. Gandhi led campaigns across India to expand economic self-reliance, decrease poverty, support women's rights, and end the traditional practice of untouchability. In addition, his methods have served as inspiration for leaders throughout the world who are being suppressed.
So that’s who Gandhi was. Good to know.
“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”-Mahatma Gandhi
February 24, 2010
Helping Haiti
The destruction and devastation of Haiti that occurred as a result of the earthquake in mid-January is overwhelming. Seeing the endless streams of families without houses or any of their personal belongings is difficult to watch. Personally, I prefer not to be bombarded with all of the bad news. It’s not that I don’t want to be well-informed about the problems or that I don’t care. It’s because I would rather be doing something that would contribute to a solution as opposed to spending my time absorbing all of the devastation.
I’ve talked to a lot of people who feel the same way. Many of us would rather get involved instead of get depressed. Although taking a flight to Haiti to help out is not feasible possibility for many of us, there are other ways to get involved. One of the biggest needs right now is funding to assist with rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Here are some of the most established organizations that are actively on the ground in Haiti helping rebuild the nation:
1. American Red Cross: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization.
2. International Rescue Committee: Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee goes to crisis zones to rescue and rebuild. We lead refugees from harm to home.
3. Catholic Relief Services: Help CRS rush humanitarian relief to survivors within hours of man-made and natural disasters around the world.
4. Operation USA: Operation USA helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid.
5. UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF): Humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to areas affected by natural disasters. CERF will assure that the funds for the relief effort in Haiti will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations.
Instead of buying a plane ticket to Haiti, send the same amount of money to one of these organizations instead. Your donations are never needed more than they are now.
I’ve talked to a lot of people who feel the same way. Many of us would rather get involved instead of get depressed. Although taking a flight to Haiti to help out is not feasible possibility for many of us, there are other ways to get involved. One of the biggest needs right now is funding to assist with rescue and rehabilitation efforts. Here are some of the most established organizations that are actively on the ground in Haiti helping rebuild the nation:
1. American Red Cross: Since its founding in 1881 by visionary leader Clara Barton, the American Red Cross has been the nation's premier emergency response organization.
2. International Rescue Committee: Since 1933, the International Rescue Committee goes to crisis zones to rescue and rebuild. We lead refugees from harm to home.
3. Catholic Relief Services: Help CRS rush humanitarian relief to survivors within hours of man-made and natural disasters around the world.
4. Operation USA: Operation USA helps communities alleviate the effects of disasters, disease and endemic poverty throughout the world by providing privately-funded relief, reconstruction and development aid.
5. UN Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF): Humanitarian fund established by the United Nations to enable more timely and reliable humanitarian assistance to areas affected by natural disasters. CERF will assure that the funds for the relief effort in Haiti will go where they are most needed in the network of international aid organizations.
Instead of buying a plane ticket to Haiti, send the same amount of money to one of these organizations instead. Your donations are never needed more than they are now.
February 23, 2010
The Meaning of Politics
I’m no Greek scholar. I took Latin in high school and Spanish in college. But even with the limited linguistics skills that I possess, I do know that the root meaning of the word politics is “people”. At the end of the day, politics is about the people—not the politicians, their political parties, or the issue du jure. It’s about the people that our governments are formed to serve.
Vaclav Havel got this right,
“Genuine politics—even politics worthy of the name—the only politics I am willing to devote myself to—is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community and serving those who will come after us.”
Sometimes I wonder if our government leaders have forgotten this basic middle school government class lesson. Politics is serving others. To that end, anyone who serves others, whether they’ve been elected or not, is a politician.
Go figure. Who knew that we are all politicians in our own way?
Vaclav Havel got this right,
“Genuine politics—even politics worthy of the name—the only politics I am willing to devote myself to—is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community and serving those who will come after us.”
Sometimes I wonder if our government leaders have forgotten this basic middle school government class lesson. Politics is serving others. To that end, anyone who serves others, whether they’ve been elected or not, is a politician.
Go figure. Who knew that we are all politicians in our own way?
February 22, 2010
I love my job!
Only 45% of Americans are satisfied with the jobs.
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/05/national/main6056611.shtml)
That’s less than half of all workers! Is this how you would describe your work?
The dissatisfaction with work has become pandemic. It seems like it’s more culturally acceptable to hate your job, your boss, your coworkers than to enjoy and take pride in the work that you do.
This is especially true for people who are committed to serving other and volunteering. They feel like their jobs aren’t meaningful, worthwhile, or contribute to society. But is that really true? Do you have to volunteer and donate your talents and labor in order for your work to be worthwhile? I don’t think so.
In fact, I have a confession to make. I love my job. I really do. I’m not just saying that because my colleagues, supervisor, or grad school admission panelists might read this. Going to work every day and doing the best job I can is personally gratifying and it also makes a positive impact on the world.
Think of it this way. Someone has to manufacture the shoes that protect the fragile feet of children in third world countries. Someone has to analyze the best way to use farmland so that we can produce high quality, abundant food sources. Someone has to decide where to invest money so that it will still be there for people when they have to retire and are unable to work any longer.
If you’re still not convinced that your paid job is as meaningful as your volunteer work, here’s another way to think about it. Consider your job a type of training ground for your service efforts. You learn valuable skills while working in your full-time job, and you can transfer those talents and abilities to your volunteer work. Doing a good job is, well, good.
P.S. Along these lines, it’s ok to make money! It’s what you do with your money that matters. In my mind, making money isn’t a crime. Money can be used to do a lot of good. As long as you don’t worship the dollar or let your bank account fuel your self-worth, it’s not wrong to be rich.
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/01/05/national/main6056611.shtml)
That’s less than half of all workers! Is this how you would describe your work?
The dissatisfaction with work has become pandemic. It seems like it’s more culturally acceptable to hate your job, your boss, your coworkers than to enjoy and take pride in the work that you do.
This is especially true for people who are committed to serving other and volunteering. They feel like their jobs aren’t meaningful, worthwhile, or contribute to society. But is that really true? Do you have to volunteer and donate your talents and labor in order for your work to be worthwhile? I don’t think so.
In fact, I have a confession to make. I love my job. I really do. I’m not just saying that because my colleagues, supervisor, or grad school admission panelists might read this. Going to work every day and doing the best job I can is personally gratifying and it also makes a positive impact on the world.
Think of it this way. Someone has to manufacture the shoes that protect the fragile feet of children in third world countries. Someone has to analyze the best way to use farmland so that we can produce high quality, abundant food sources. Someone has to decide where to invest money so that it will still be there for people when they have to retire and are unable to work any longer.
If you’re still not convinced that your paid job is as meaningful as your volunteer work, here’s another way to think about it. Consider your job a type of training ground for your service efforts. You learn valuable skills while working in your full-time job, and you can transfer those talents and abilities to your volunteer work. Doing a good job is, well, good.
P.S. Along these lines, it’s ok to make money! It’s what you do with your money that matters. In my mind, making money isn’t a crime. Money can be used to do a lot of good. As long as you don’t worship the dollar or let your bank account fuel your self-worth, it’s not wrong to be rich.
February 21, 2010
My Guilty Pleasure: Platinum Weddings
I admit it. I am fascinated by the show Platinum Weddings on We TV. I’m not sure if I can explain exactly why, but there’s just something about the $150,000 rehearsal dinners, bouquets of the most expensive orchids in the world, and seemingly infinite diamond necklaces that captivates my attention. Sure I’m a single twenty-something woman right now and I definitely dream of getting married someday, eventually. But I think it’s more than that. The opulence just seems to never end, but in reality it does. It’s all over in 1 day (ok maybe 1 week in the case of some of these wedding extravaganzas). Hundreds of thousands of dollars spent for 1 day. I have to wonder if it’s worth it—especially if the marriage ends in divorce. The pictures may be great, but I’d be willing to bet that couples who have reached their golden anniversaries and were married in their church with only their pastor, immediate family, and maybe a bouquet of flowers purchased from the local florist are just as content, if not more so.
This isn’t to say that we shouldn’t have nice weddings, but doesn’t there have to be a point when you focus more on the marriage than the royal violet Norwegian orchids and herb encrusted scallops that were harvested in Nova Scotia and air-lifted in for the reception? I hope so! Celebrating is important, but I’m not convinced that these platinum brides are celebrating love, family, marriage, and community.
To my future husband, whoever he may be: I don’t want a wedding that will cost as much as a mansion. A sincere and fulfilled commitment of unending love and faithfulness is all I need. But then again, I wouldn’t mind a nice ring as well!
February 20, 2010
Is bigger always better?
So for the question of the day, Is bigger always better?
When it comes to chocolate, my answer is a resounding “Yes!”.
But with service that’s not always the case. Those small acts of kindness can make all the difference in the world. Service is not just about volunteering every Saturday afternoon. Service is an everyday ethos of treating others well and leading a good life. Some of the most impactful actions you can take might only take a couple minutes. The other day when I was at the post office, I had five packages to mail and my hands were overloaded. A gentleman several decades older than I am offered to help bring the packages to the counter. His kind smile and practical help relieving my burdened back was a great type of service. It made all the difference in my day. It didn’t even require a donation or an hour of his time. I was sincerely grateful!
What can you do today, even if it’s something small?
“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” -Edmund Burke
When it comes to chocolate, my answer is a resounding “Yes!”.
But with service that’s not always the case. Those small acts of kindness can make all the difference in the world. Service is not just about volunteering every Saturday afternoon. Service is an everyday ethos of treating others well and leading a good life. Some of the most impactful actions you can take might only take a couple minutes. The other day when I was at the post office, I had five packages to mail and my hands were overloaded. A gentleman several decades older than I am offered to help bring the packages to the counter. His kind smile and practical help relieving my burdened back was a great type of service. It made all the difference in my day. It didn’t even require a donation or an hour of his time. I was sincerely grateful!
What can you do today, even if it’s something small?
“Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little.” -Edmund Burke
February 19, 2010
Heroes
Everybody needs a hero, someone they can aspire to be like and admire. I’m not sure if I have somebody I would consider to be my hero, but I definitely have role models that I try to imitate. These people range from successful business innovators to world leaders to my mom, dad, and respected teachers. Having people to look up to is important. It can help you keep growing to become the person you want to be.
Sometimes though I think we can become guilty of hero worship, putting people who do great things on a platform so that they seem to be ‘saviors’. It seems like they are the quintessential embodiment of perfection. They can do no wrong. Our world is reliant upon them in order to make progress and improve society.
However, the unfortunate truth is that all heroes have an Achilles tendon or two. That is to say that everyone has faults and a couple of great people who inhabit the earth for a short amount of time can’t do everything that needs to be done to solve all problems and wipe away all injustices.
I love something Marian Wright Edelman said,
“A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back—but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you.”
We can still look up to others, but we’ve got to go beyond that and actually take actions with our own hands and minds. We’ve got to be our own heroes.
Sometimes though I think we can become guilty of hero worship, putting people who do great things on a platform so that they seem to be ‘saviors’. It seems like they are the quintessential embodiment of perfection. They can do no wrong. Our world is reliant upon them in order to make progress and improve society.
However, the unfortunate truth is that all heroes have an Achilles tendon or two. That is to say that everyone has faults and a couple of great people who inhabit the earth for a short amount of time can’t do everything that needs to be done to solve all problems and wipe away all injustices.
I love something Marian Wright Edelman said,
“A lot of people are waiting for Martin Luther King or Mahatma Gandhi to come back—but they are gone. We are it. It is up to us. It is up to you.”
We can still look up to others, but we’ve got to go beyond that and actually take actions with our own hands and minds. We’ve got to be our own heroes.
February 18, 2010
Silver Linings in the Snowdrifts
I live in the Washington, D.C. area and we’ve had record breaking snowfalls this winter. It seems like every time we finally dig ourselves out of the latest snowstorm, another one springs up and covers the streets with another dusting of snow and ice. It’s almost like you can hear Nature laughing at the joke she’s played on us, requiring us to plow the roads (once again…) and sprinkle cat litter on the front porch so that we can keep from tripping.
At least there’s been a silver lining amidst the snowstorms.
Having only met my neighbors on passing occasions, driving in and out of the subdivision, the blankets of winter white have forced us out of our houses. We’ve helped each other de-ice our cars and scrape the windshields. I’ve seen nearby kids building amazing snowmen together and couples sharing meals. We’ve offered praise and encouragement to the guy who keeps coming with a bulldozer to plow our driveways. It’s too bad that it took record snowfalls for us to appreciate the people who live right next to us, but I’m thankful nonetheless.
Maybe Nature knows better than she’s letting on…
At least there’s been a silver lining amidst the snowstorms.
Having only met my neighbors on passing occasions, driving in and out of the subdivision, the blankets of winter white have forced us out of our houses. We’ve helped each other de-ice our cars and scrape the windshields. I’ve seen nearby kids building amazing snowmen together and couples sharing meals. We’ve offered praise and encouragement to the guy who keeps coming with a bulldozer to plow our driveways. It’s too bad that it took record snowfalls for us to appreciate the people who live right next to us, but I’m thankful nonetheless.
Maybe Nature knows better than she’s letting on…
February 17, 2010
Where to Start
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” –Anne Frank
One of the hardest parts of volunteering for the first time is deciding where to start.
Child hunger? Poverty? Gang violence? Teen pregnancy? Immigration? Endangered species?
The issues are as endless as the opportunities to serve. A lot of people who haven’t started volunteering yet are intimidated by the infinite choices, but this shouldn’t keep you from jumping in. You don’t have to decide on a ‘cause’ before you choose a place to volunteer. Experiment! If you’re not a regular volunteer, try helping out at some local nonprofits. See what moves you. What organization needs the most help? Where can you make the biggest contribution? Do this before you choose one issue you want to focus your volunteer efforts on. As Anne Frank mentioned, there’s no need to wait until you find the ‘right’ cause for you.
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