Enrich Your Life by Sharing Your Passion

Sharon’s life was busy. She was married with a challenging technical career but felt something was missing. Like many people, she felt the urge to do something more creative and that more directly touched people’s lives in positive ways. Some steps in her quest to find a creative outlet might help anyone who is searching for opportunities to enrich the lives of others while nurturing an inner passion.

Impersonal organizations or projects did not appeal to Sharon. Meetings bored her; she had always enjoyed getting directly involved in activities. As she considered what steps to take toward getting involved, a wary little voice in her head counseled, “Pick your causes well.” There were so many needs out there. She knew if she called a volunteer organization they might pounce on her with dozens of very worthwhile projects desperately needing attention. She would need to stick to her guns because she didn’t desire to do just anything with the time she had to share, she wanted to become involved in a way that would give to others and nurture her as well.

Feeling a little guilty about focusing on her needs, she remembered back to what she had learned in an Assertiveness Training class. Assertive behavior meant acting in a way that respects your own rights and wants at the same time respecting the rights and wants of others. Acting assertively is the healthiest approach because it doesn’t trigger resentment and frustration in others and it doesn’t trigger resentment and frustration within you.

Sharon sat down to brainstorm. What did she really want to do and what steps might she take to find a way to do it? What emerged were ideas for teaching an informal writing class helping and encouraging people to write about their lives.

She proposed the idea to the director of a local senior center who was thrilled. For two years now, Sharon has met weekly with an interesting and talented group. They are grateful to have guidance in putting their experiences and thoughts on paper for their families or others. Sharon has shared ideas and knowledge, and they have taught her as well. The group has grown; they have created a small anthology of writings and truly enjoy each other’s company sharing a mutual interest.

Sharon stayed focused, acted assertively and ended up being an asset to an organization. She was able to fill a need in the lives of a special group of people and has personally gained more than she ever could have imagined.

Everyone has passions and talents. If you feel drawn to share with others in a meaningful way, here are some ideas that can help you find and start doing what you really want.

Consider how much time you have to spend.

Remember assertiveness, respect others but don't forget you. Stick to the amount of time you feel comfortable committing to. In Sharon’s case that was a couple hours a week.

Write out a statement of what you really want to do.

Write out what you want to do, how many hours a week you want to share, how it will benefit others, and what you hope to gain. Some organizations offer valuable training to volunteers, is there something you would like to learn? This is another way of staying focused as you search for you new activity. By writing things out ahead of time you will be more prepared if you have to kindly decline when people enthusiastically try to corral your talents and energies for projects meaningful to them but not to you.

Be honest and assertive.

If you desire is to get involved in a more personal way with people, possibly the volunteer needs of larger organizations are not what you are looking for. Sharon had writing skills and many organizations would have loved her help with their newsletter or other publication needs. It wasn’t opportunities to write she longed for, though, it was sharing with others in meaningful ways. Had she gotten involved writing a newsletter she would have been merely responding to someone else’s need while denying her own.

Put together a framework for a class, program or presentation you could offer.

When Sharon thought of teaching a class helping people write about their lives, she sat down and developed some ideas for what she would do over a series of weeks. With her ideas and some she’d gained by looking over some books by other writing teachers, she typed up some initial exercises. Since she wasn’t charging for her time, she had more freedom to set the framework and she felt less pressure embarking on something new to her, teaching writing. Sharon’s class is still going strong two years later and has developed its own style as it progressed. Her initial framework, though, gave her confidence to get started. Laying out a plan may help you as well.

Share your expertise by offering a program or demonstration.

You may not have time for a weekly commitment but you may have a hobby, passion, or pastime that others would find interesting. Many organizations are looking for talks or demonstrations. A local senior center director discovered that one participant had a son who was in administration with the railroad and who was passionate about railroad history. She asked and he was willing to give a talk about the railroad system today and how it had evolved. It was a very well attended and received presentation. Don't underestimate the interest in an hobby or expertise you may have. Consider locating places looking for speakers and offer to share.

Look around and talk to caring individuals.

Even without the structure of an organization, there are unlimited ways to reach out to others and share your passions. Daniel, newly out of college and working in a large city as a sales rep was feeling lonely for informal, friendly interaction he had always enjoyed with his large, extended family. He had an apartment in the downtown area of the city and walked his dog in a small park nearby. One day an elderly man sitting alone observing life go by, complimented him on his dog. Daniel decided to stop, join the man on the bench and strike up a conversation. Daniel took the time to get to know this man named Robert who, he learned, lived alone in a low-income senior residence nearby. Out of that decision to stop, a friendship grew. For a year now, every week Daniel has taken time to share coffee at a café with Robert. He smiles when talking about spending time with him; about how much Robert brightens up when he arrives and about how many interesting things he has learned from him. Daniel found his own way of filling an inner need to share with someone like the elders in his family, and in doing so has brightened the life of a lonely soul.

When looking for ways to share your passions, to reach out to others, look around you, talk to caring people you know. Like Daniel, you could create your own 'volunteer' project.

If you feel the urge to share with others, finding an opportunity to do it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Don’t hesitate to enrich your life by volunteering in a way that is meaningful to you as well others. By sharing your talents you can, in your own individual way, help to build a better world.