If you feel that you don’t enjoy volunteering, you are not alone. A lot of people go into a volunteer experience with the best of intentions. But they wind up disappointed by something that should be making them feel good.

Does that mean you should give up volunteering for good? Or that you just have to suck it up since it might be good for your career? Or simply that doing good doesn’t have to feel good.

Reasons People Don’t Enjoy Volunteering

Here are things people have told me about their own volunteer experiences: [Read more…]

I am moved to add a few words of my own after reading Jason Alba’s wonderful post on his job search site, JibberJobber. But his article is not about job search. Instead, he talks about how to move on in our own lives, even with so many horrible things happening. Seemingly one on top of another lately. How can you make a difference that really matters?

For people whose days are spent at the office, and who often come home exhausted, free time is especially precious. And while I’m sure you’d like to volunteer or give more to your community, days often fade into each other. And both time and good intentions pass us by.

So how can you make a difference?

Sometimes we forget how important the little things are. I’d love to be able to reach into people’s minds and change their thoughts into kindness if they intend evil. Or to be able to magically prevent natural disasters from affecting so many lives. But, of course, that kind of power would probably be too much to handle for any mere human.

The good news is that little kindnesses are something we can do anywhere and at any time. Maybe that’s not going to change the world. But then again, they are a way you can make a difference. And we never know where the ripples go even from the simplest of acts.

What if something nice that you do or say today helps someone who was having a bad day. And they, in turn, are just a little kinder to someone they might have otherwise given a hard time to. Maybe even their children. And maybe, as a result, that kid who might have picked on someone else doesn’t.

Not exactly rocket science

I realize that my example might seem a bit simplistic. But one drop can ripple out in ways you never imagined. I hope that at least it helps give a picture of the potential greater impact of any one act.

This world has more than enough anger and outrage. And, as tempting as it might feel to lay low when all seems so crazy, staying neutral doesn’t help shift the balance.

So wherever you are and whatever you are doing, there is probably at least some small act of kindness you can fit in. Simply ask yourself what extra thing can you do today that would make someone’s day better. And then, go for it.

Secret:  It will make your day better too. And that also lives on.

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My Boss Tries To Control Everything!