Our hobbies and interests enrich our Return on Life, exercising our bodies and minds, enhancing our skills, and broadening our understanding of the world. But hobbies can also enrich our communities and help those in need if we use them to give back.
Let’s explore how to connect your favorite pastimes to volunteering so that you can give and get back even more from your service.
The Power of Passionate Volunteering
When you think about volunteering and charity, you probably imagine lending a helping hand wherever it’s needed. You might not actually enjoy picking up garbage in a park or lugging boxes to a clothing drive. But the selflessness is part of the giving. And if everyone was more willing to step outside of themselves from time to time and pitch in, the world might be a happier place.
However, if you can integrate hobbies and passions into your volunteer work, you might feel motivated to give back even more. You might also be able to use the things you’re good at or know a lot about to make more specialized contributions to causes. This could transform the obligations you feel towards your neighbors into a way to share a bigger part of yourself. You might even inspire more people to do the same.
As you take a more active role in your volunteering, you might also pick up some new skills that you can use in other areas of your life. Your expertise could make you an ideal team leader, challenging you to grow as a communicator and learn to work well with a broader group of people. Furthering an organization’s mission could help you develop your time management and organizational skills. You also might learn more about the cause you’re helping and discover more ways you can make an impact.
Volunteering around your hobbies could also be a great way to expand your social circle. Meet people who share your talents and interests and you’ll create lasting friendships that make your volunteer work and your personal life more fulfilling.
Do More of What You Love to Do
Start by thinking about your favorite hobbies, as well as things you’re interested in learning more about. Somewhere in your community there’s a person or an organization who can benefit from hobbies such as:
Gardening
Pitch in at your local community garden or set one up in your neighborhood. If you just like being outside and getting your hands dirty, help elderly neighbors and relatives with basic yardwork like raking and mowing the lawn.
Building and Crafting
Organizations like EPIC Homes welcome both beginners and experienced builders to help construct safe homes for underprivileged Orang Asli communities. You could also volunteer at local Pusat Aktiviti Kanak-Kanak (PAKK) or community centers to run DIY crafting sessions or teach basic skills like sewing, batik painting, or woodworking. Even something as simple as helping an elderly neighbor fix a leaking pipe or mend a broken chair can go a long way in building a stronger, more caring community.
Sports
Many youth sports programs depend on volunteer coaches. Your love of the game and your knowledge of proper tactics and techniques could help to inspire the next generation of players and fans.
The Arts
Artists and musicians can teach classes, perform at nursing homes and hospitals, and organize community concerts and art fairs that raise money for charities.
Make Time to Give More
Almost all charities and nonprofits depend on financial generosity. But time is the one resource we have to give that we can never make more of. Visit our office and let’s talk about how our Life-Centered Planning process can help you spend your time in more fulfilling and meaningful ways.
