Why do you want to be a volunteer and do something without being paid?
In the darkest hour when life seems to be meaningless there is a cure, there is a light — doing good for people.
There is a day when you wake up in the morning questioning your life.
What is this all for?
Am I doing the right thing?
Is it the life I always wanted?
That day happened to me a couple of months ago when I realised that the goals I set up for this year, the ones that were on the top of my list, have already come true. That was a moment of deep reconsideration of “what is next”.
What makes life worth living?
That was the main point I was trying to find out. Obviously, I am not the first one and definitely not the last one to ask myself that question but I knew that to make my life meaningful (at least for myself) I need to find something that enriches my experience and brings value to my daily life.
I was thinking about volunteering long time ago but always leaving it for the right time.
Time never came.
Or it came late in the evening and was always postponed to tomorrow. Or it came and other things stoped me from taking actions. There was never a perfect time for it.
Simon Sinek. The person that raised an extremely high wave of motivation and made me act right after I watched one of his keynote videos.
Amazing how some people can influence us. What he did — is during his speech he touched all important characteristics of the person that I want to be.
Being overwhelmed with a bunch of emotions after the video was over, I knew I need to act NOW. Or it will again be never.
I made a quick research on volunteering options, wrote emails to the organisations where I could see myself being useful. But for days and weeks I didn’t get any responses back.
You might think I gave up on the idea and kept waiting for the moment.
No.
The emotion was too strong. The impact was too deep.
I couldn’t stop thinking of engaging myself into volunteering and that is why I decided to go for the option that was always in the back of my mind.
I grew up in Moscow and received my first degree there. Both of my parents have scientific background and their families have generations of educators and teachers. So you can imagine the environment I was brought up in.
I always wanted to share my knowledge with others and to be not only a teacher or a tutor but a supported, a motivator, a role model for someone who is just starting a learning path.
I made a post in a group on social media that is created for Russian-speaking community in the city where I live. I offered my time as a private teacher of English language free of charge. The only thing I asked for is to express
motivation
to learn the language. Because in this case I was looking for someone who desperately wants to learn and is ready to commit.
I was surprised how many people reached out to me and how many of them were more than deserving to be chosen. Unfortunately, if I were to help all of them, I would need to quit my job and work 24/7. And it would still not be enough…
Ultimately, it’s been a month since I started the course with a girl whose message won my heart. There was so much passion and dedication to learn.
I felt I am able to help. And “help” here is not really about English lessons, it is more about being able to bring the best out of her and show that there is nothing impossible, even when you are 25 and did’t study the language at all.
The most important learning is the following:
if something matters in this world, it is giving.
Unconditionally,
freely,
and to the full extent of what you can give.
Why? Because as surprising as it may sound, it makes you richer. The more you give the more you receive.
And nothing tangible is meant here. You become rich with joy, happiness and appreciation. Being fulfilled from giving — just to give — creates a certain purpose of life.
Because think about it: we are all here for a reason, hopefully. Then why not to be a motivation for someone reaching personal goals, to be an inspiration for development, to be someone’s hope to realise a dream?
And even if there is no reason for being here, then at least the time devoted can be spent with a positive attitude, otherwise it would be too easy to give up and feel miserable.
In the end of the day it is a personal choice.
Choose to be happy, choose to be kind, choose and be there for others.
