The end of the
year is upon us and with it comes the opportunity to close a chapter of our
lives and start anew.
What an amazing annual event this is. Do any of us truly appreciate the
opportunity this time of year gives us? We start January 1, fresh as all the
events prior become something that happened ‘last year.’
Leading up to New Year’s Eve, we reminisce on a year in which we had success and
disappointments; happiness and sadness; opportunities for love; a lifetime of
emotions. Some people have ended the year broke, their money lost, others have
made their fortune. Some have lost or gained a job. Some have found or lost
their faith, for a million reasons; others have had a spiritual awakening.
Either way, when it comes down to it we all have a reason to be cheerful; we are
alive, ready for a new beginning. A clean slate awaits.
Try as we might we can’t relive the past nor can we predict the future. That’s
an excellent reason to enjoy the moment we have now. Because we truly only have
this moment. Take a look around you as you finish reading. Look at your loved
ones, your friends, your pets; the people who are important to you.
Enjoy them for who
and what they are today, as they (or you and I) may not be here to appreciate
next year. Our lives comprise of a series of chapters, some long, some short;
all of which will inevitably end. Life is fleeting, fragile, and ultimately,
fatal. We exist, briefly, between two eternities.
We can however add meaning - texture - to our lives.
By adding meaning we provide a purpose to our existence and that is one of the
best natural anti-depressants around. The secret of success, for true
self-fulfillment, for our slice of heaven on earth?
No matter your faith or belief it can be summed up in the one sentence from
biblical text so often quoted, “do unto others as you would to yourself.” Help
others. In doing so nature, the universe, G-d, will smile on you and your life
will be become more filled with joy than you can ever imagine. Try it.
Get your hands dirty. Planning, meeting and talking are great for starters
however the real reward is in the doing. To do good for others you have to dive
in. Work at a food bank. Give the guy at the intersection $5 and a kind word.
Volunteer at a charitable organization. Visit the prison. Help the sick.
Donating money is fine but it’s giving by proxy; give of yourself, in addition
to your pocketbook.
There are dozens of organizations that rely on volunteers to fulfill their
mission. I’ll name two because I am familiar with them; hospice and the Guardian
ad Litem program. Both operate on a local level.
Hospice is a place where people, young and old go to die. Nobody should enter or
leave this world alone. These volunteers comfort the dying; talk to them;
provide them emotional support; empathize and counsel, ensure their comfort. At
times simply being present at the bedside is all that is asked. Your time is
cherished and very welcome.
The Guardian
ad Litem (GAL) program, also known as the Court Appointed Special Advocate
(CASA); these groups are entirely volunteer based and provide extensive support
services for abused, abandoned and neglected children in our community. GAL
volunteers represent the best interests of these children in court. The
volunteers are the eyes and ears of the judge and, armed with a powerful court
order, investigate the cases to which they are assigned to ensure that the
children are properly represented and receive the services from the state to
which they are entitled.
A single case could take up perhaps four hours a month; many volunteers who have
the time take multiple cases, however one case is all that matters to the
children involved. You will receive extensive training – online and in-person -
in all aspects of the law and the intricacies involved in handling this
rewarding work. You will also undergo a thorough criminal history and background
check due to your proximity to children.
A final note. As a Guardian you may the only person in the world a child has to
speak for them. Remember that. And in the case of hospice, you could be the last
person a dying person sees or feels before they leave this world.
As 2009 rolls in, start giving and you’ll start living.
Contact information:
CASA (National): http://www.nationalcasa.org
Guardian ad Litem: http://www.guardianadlitem.org/
Note: The title “Reasons to be cheerful (Part 3)” is a song from the 1979’s by
the now deceased Ian Dury and his band, the Blockheads.
