Ever since moving to Austin (and even a bit before that), I started feeling very compelled to do volunteer work. I don’t know what it is because I’m usually lazy and generally a bit skittish of strangers. Whatever, I’ve been feeling bolder and, while I don’t have a lot of extra money lying around, I feel like I should do something because I do have so much. I’ve looked at about a billion ways to help out, from small to monumental. Honestly, sometimes I asked myself why I would even consider some of them, but maybe the point is to do something that really pushes me (i.e. volunteer at the animal shelter – I’m not known as an animal lover…or liker). I went online like any normal person would these days to find some things that interested me or that I would be able to even do. I could call out bingo to old people on the phone! But what if they got confused with the B and the G and I just starting yelling at them? I could travel across town carrying bags of blood. Um, maybe not? I could go to disabled people’s homes and do repair work. Am I really handy? I could volunteer to work feeding and cleaning up after miniature horses. Miniature horses!? How cute! Oh, but they poop.
Once I got to Austin, I got involved with two organizations I’m pretty passionate about. One takes me back to high school when I participated in it myself. It’s called Youth and Government and it’s through the YMCA. They do mock government where people can run for governor, write bills, participate in trials or even work on the newspaper. It was such an amazing experience for me in high school and I made great friends from it (including my friend in Austin who I’m volunteering with). They have a district competition and then state competition at the Texas Capitol. What an awesome way for me to get back in to something that made me so happy way back when. The other is a program called GENAustin (Girl Empowerment Network). They go out to schools and other girl groups to do workshops and club meetings to talk about topics that relate directly to girls: body image, communication, and healthy relationships. The training has been fun (who doesn’t love to pretend to be a sixth grader again!?) and I have met some great gals from it. I just hope I can work it into my schedule since most of it is during the school day.
So…Since November is the month for giving thanks and it seems like everyone on my Facebook is giving a daily update with the things they are thankful for, I decided to celebrate my thanks by doing ten (or more) random acts of kindness this month. I made a list of some things to try out, from simple to more difficult. It will require dedication, but not much time or money. I think sometimes just a sweet note can really brighten up someone’s day/week/month/year. I know it has in my experience. So check back in and I’ll post my random acts (hopefully with pictures!) and the results I get from them.
I am doing all these acts because I’m thankful for: an amazing family led by some awesome parents, my friends who I love so dearly because they make me laugh and cry and enrich my life, my apartment that provides me quiet comfort, the car I drive that’s almost paid off, a job that allows me to live my life in the fashion I do, the freedoms we experience in this country, the grace I’ve been extended, and books that keep me warm at night.
