People ask me why I volunteer when I already have a full
life. How do you fit it in?, they ask. My answer, How could I not?
Here’s a story about what I receive from volunteering.
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| Why Volunteer? |
Anyone who knows me, knows how much I like words. The flow
of a sentence that deems a sticky note on the side of the page. The quote that
must be saved for future use. The image created by the words that are seared
into your mind.
We all know that instant when
you meet someone who has stayed in the same hostel you did in Machu Picchu, or
someone who puts potato chips into their sandwich as you do. It is that kind of bond with a
fellow word lover.
I met a lovely lady two decades my senior, dressed in a fashionable red jacket
with ornate buttons, who loves words too. In our
conversation about the type of books we prefer (non-fiction) we also discovered
that we were both introverts, and liked garage sales. We talked about meditation, and simple living and connections however
tenuous they might be with some family members. We both read because we both
want to learn.
