The Ups and Downs of Volunteering
Some of us have worked most of our lives and hate the idea of spending our remaining years just sitting around watching TV. We want to stay engaged, feel useful, and continue connecting with people. That’s precisely why I started exploring volunteering.
Over the years, I’ve tried a few different places. One of my first experiences was volunteering with the USO. I worked a booth at an event, and it was a lot of fun! I loved meeting people, answering questions, and just being in the flow of things. That inspired me to try a longer-term opportunity at their airport location.
But to be honest, that one didn’t go so well.
Most of the other volunteers were ex-military, and boy, was there a structure. I’m more of a free spirit—an “abstract random kind of person—and I found myself constantly getting corrected. “You can’t stand there. That’s my place,” one person said. So I tried something else. I figured I’d help by tidying up the snack counter. But another volunteer came over and told me, “That’s my job.” Even sorting crackers had a chain of command.
It didn’t help that the lounge itself wasn’t very kid-friendly. Many military folks came in to nap, grab a snack, or quietly work on their laptops. It’s a calm, peaceful place—which is nice—unless you have children in tow. There was no view of the planes, no stimulation, and outdated board games that most kids didn’t even recognize. The candy seemed like it had been there since Halloween four years ago, and the kids were bouncing off the walls from sugar. Volunteers would keep telling them to sit still and stop running. It just didn’t feel like a welcoming space for families—or for someone like me who likes to jump in and make things better.
The USO does excellent work, but it wasn’t a good fit for me. So, I moved on and started looking for a new adventure.
Seeing the volunteers at a nearby library sparked another idea. I’m fluent in library databases, and I love books. What better place to be around people and ideas? I started checking it out—literally. I spent several afternoons sitting in the magazine section, observing. But what I found was disappointing. Many volunteers were more interested in gossiping about their peers or regular patrons than in assisting. And the noise level! Wow!
The truth is, I’m not just looking for something to do—I want something meaningful to add to my calendar. Something that helps me feel useful again. As we get older, we’re often overlooked, as if we have nothing left to contribute. What a mistake. We’ve lived full lives. We have stories. We have wisdom.
I love walking up to someone in my age group and starting an intelligent conversation. You never know where it might lead. Sometimes, it even inspires me to research something new. That’s the heart of why I want to volunteer—to make a difference in someone else’s life, to share what I’ve learned so they don’t have to repeat the same mistakes.
Right now, my friend and I are exploring a new opportunity with a nonprofit that helps people prepare for job interviews. They provide professional clothing, résumé help, job board referrals, mock interviews, and even one-on-one coaching for those who want it. I’ll admit, I might be a little out of touch with what young people wear to interviews these days, but I have plenty of experience helping both job seekers and employers. I've taught candidates how to stand out and trained hiring managers how to spot great talent.
It’s early days for this new effort. The organization is in the middle of a move, so things are still getting organized. We don’t yet have momentum or a clear picture of how our skills will fit in—but we’re going to stick with it and keep trying a little longer. Sometimes, you need to give things a little time.
One last thing I’ve learned? Don’t volunteer expecting praise or thanks. Most of the time, you won’t get it. Sometimes volunteering feels like a chore. But if even one life becomes more positive because of something I did, then it’s worth every minute.
And to all the volunteer coordinators out there—please be organized when volunteers show up! Don’t waste that precious willingness to help. And a great big thank you for all you do.
“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
— J. R. R. Tolkien
We have a bookshop store HERE where you can find books Linda has read, or that look helpful for folks dealing with chronic diseases of various kinds.
This blog post is based on personal experiences and is not meant to provide medical advice.
Always consult your healthcare professional for personalized guidance on your health journey.
