Thank you for broadening our views of volunteerism, Judy. I often feel I'm not doing enough in the face of the needs aroundme in our church, community, and world, but I also fail to consider all the informal ways I use my time to help others. I appreciate this post.
I feel the same - it can be overwhelming to be confronted with so many needs. Time is a gift, and we must decide how we will use it, which isn’t always easy! Thanks for your thoughts, Maggie.
When you were volunteering at that crisis pregnacy center I thought "I could never do that". Years later that's just what I was doing--enjoying and growing through the experience. Here I felt I needed to be available to the grandhildren so didn't want to make a time committment, but we found a center to support with baby items and finances. Now (almost 20 years into retirement) I knit baby sweaters and hats for various ministries. The Lord provides the abilities and the opportunities--and sometimes the courage to step into something new.
That’s so encouraging Diane, and you are right that the Lord will provide opportunities and we will grow through them. It sounds like you have a nice mix of informal and formal volunteering efforts. Thank you so much for your comment!
Excellent discourse! I’m sad and concerned to see the decline in volunteering overall and the unaccountability of informal volunteering. I’d love to see a new checkbox on applications and forms giving the choice of “volunteer” in addition to “employed” and “retired” and even a choice of “on sabbatical.”
Retirement can be a social construct that confines self-perceptions and impressions that don’t necessarily reflect one’s true “work” status!
I recently admitted during a women’s networking event that I cringed when having to check the Retired box and rarely revealed my status as a “retiree” in social settings. The event leader suggested that I replace the dubious “R” word with the term “reframing” as my current stage in the “third age” as you cited in your essay. Love this concept.
When I worked I always appreciated and publicly praised the volunteers and stay-at-home parents who formally volunteered as PTA leaders and other leadership and lay positions in faith-based and civic and community groups and organizations. And now I relish receiving that same appreciation and recognition as a formal and informal volunteer that my privilege and passion provides.
Very well said, Judi, and I agree that checking the “retired” box doesn’t do justice to what we are doing. It’s a new stage of life with all kinds of opportunity, and hopefully more of us will realize that. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Thank you for sharing the data and information about volunteering. I hope the numbers start going back up. Some community organizations rely heavily on volunteers. Volunteers are essential.
Thank you for broadening our views of volunteerism, Judy. I often feel I'm not doing enough in the face of the needs aroundme in our church, community, and world, but I also fail to consider all the informal ways I use my time to help others. I appreciate this post.
I feel the same - it can be overwhelming to be confronted with so many needs. Time is a gift, and we must decide how we will use it, which isn’t always easy! Thanks for your thoughts, Maggie.
When you were volunteering at that crisis pregnacy center I thought "I could never do that". Years later that's just what I was doing--enjoying and growing through the experience. Here I felt I needed to be available to the grandhildren so didn't want to make a time committment, but we found a center to support with baby items and finances. Now (almost 20 years into retirement) I knit baby sweaters and hats for various ministries. The Lord provides the abilities and the opportunities--and sometimes the courage to step into something new.
That’s so encouraging Diane, and you are right that the Lord will provide opportunities and we will grow through them. It sounds like you have a nice mix of informal and formal volunteering efforts. Thank you so much for your comment!
Excellent discourse! I’m sad and concerned to see the decline in volunteering overall and the unaccountability of informal volunteering. I’d love to see a new checkbox on applications and forms giving the choice of “volunteer” in addition to “employed” and “retired” and even a choice of “on sabbatical.”
Retirement can be a social construct that confines self-perceptions and impressions that don’t necessarily reflect one’s true “work” status!
I recently admitted during a women’s networking event that I cringed when having to check the Retired box and rarely revealed my status as a “retiree” in social settings. The event leader suggested that I replace the dubious “R” word with the term “reframing” as my current stage in the “third age” as you cited in your essay. Love this concept.
When I worked I always appreciated and publicly praised the volunteers and stay-at-home parents who formally volunteered as PTA leaders and other leadership and lay positions in faith-based and civic and community groups and organizations. And now I relish receiving that same appreciation and recognition as a formal and informal volunteer that my privilege and passion provides.
Very well said, Judi, and I agree that checking the “retired” box doesn’t do justice to what we are doing. It’s a new stage of life with all kinds of opportunity, and hopefully more of us will realize that. Thank you for your thoughtful comment.
Thank you for sharing the data and information about volunteering. I hope the numbers start going back up. Some community organizations rely heavily on volunteers. Volunteers are essential.
I absolutely agree, Prasanta.
Excellent insight and sharing Thank you!