Mind Over Matter
Wednesday, February 13, 2008 at 12:33PM I never use to get sick. When people would ask me how I managed to avoid the cold going around the office, I always use to tell them it was mind over matter. A healthy mind produced a healthy body. I believe that.
Well, I seem to be sick an awful lot anymore.
In my last post, I hinted at how I was going to make myself happier and healthier this year. And no, I am not referring to giving up potato chips for lent, but the part where I joked about saving the world, albeit one step at a time. I plan on joining a group or volunteering my time to a worthy cause. Because I have discovered that this makes me a happier person.
I use to volunteer my time and energy a lot before I “settled down”. I use to work in the mental health field. I use to be committed.
And I never got sick.
But somewhere between the house, the kids, the job and full time life, I lost that part of me. And I need to get it back. Although I enjoy my job, it is in the wee hours, while lying in bed at night where I start to feel the void. What did I accomplish today? Yeah, I figured that thing out, I solved that problem, I helped those people. But all those actions only amount to earning my paycheck, by making other people more money.
I want to lie in bed and rattle off at least one accomplishment which did not benefit me or make someone else wealthier, and I want to do it without a stuffy nose!
{What are your plans for a healthier new year? Share them over at Blogher and you might win a trip to BlogHer ‘08!}
Reader Comments (7)
I think that this pretty much expresses where I am, too.
I'm in a field where I don't make money for other people (I'm an elementary teacher), but the germs? They're soooo prevalent. I do a darn good job of basic precautions and germ-killing, but once in a while a virus sneaks through. But in the meantime, as stressful as the job can be, I really do make a difference sometimes.
volunteering is good for the soul;)) but it can also take over your life. donating time and organizational skills to fundraising for the acs 'relay for life', while extremely satisfying, can lead to personal and emotional exhaustion.
i still volunteer but select 'limited time' fundraising or giftgiving like our county sponsored 'adopt a child' for the holidays, local children's hospital gifts, assisting a fellow employee who may be recovering from illness or accident, organizing community members to participate in a fundraiser, supporting the local food pantry, sending stuff to the troops, environmental cleanups in the spring.
i prefer smaller challenges that show an immediate positive impact locally rather than national organizations that have become administrative cash cows.
I admit, I am terrible about volunteering these days. But I have 3 kids I am trying to raise to become compassionate, kind, intelligent adults so I think that has to count for something.
Radical Mama: It sure does count for something!!
Humorwrokz: You are right, time is limited and I don't want something that should be rewarding end up being an additional drain. This is why I am taking my time to find the right place where I belong. The first place I looked into insisted a minimum of 5 hours a week and didn't accept any children under 9. I had to let that one go. The other place I looked into again wanted more hours a week than I can spare.
I know the right slot for me is out there. I want to be sure it is right so that I can stick with it and really make a difference.
P.S. I am looking locally for sure, no cash cows for me!
right back at 'cha momish and radical mama;)) raising kids has got to count as full time volunteering to love and support. i like to include my students in local projects so that they experience first hand just how rewarding volunteering to help others can be.
This year is still all about being a good mom - things like playing with the baby and not the computer...