Call it crazy, but there’s something profound and magical about just helping out with something — for no reason, no personal gain. The object of the game is volunteering. When you put your time and efforts to use for the sake of somebody else because you choose to, not because you were chosen to, there’s a certain prestige behind it. However, here lies the mystery: it defies logic!
When you’re working hard, putting eight hours a day into something — you expect that you’ll be getting paid. After all, you need to make a living, right? That’s what a job is for. A day in your job is definitely not a day at the poker tables. It’s about work, work, work.
A volunteer position, however — well, you’re not getting paid. You’re not getting any kind of compensation. You’re basically working for free. So here’s the thing:
Why is it such a good thing to volunteer?
This is the answer: liberation. That’s right. Think of your duties, your agendas, your expectations put on you at your job. You’re constantly under evaluation. When you’re a volunteer, it’s different; you are in control. It’s your choice to put in your time and effort.
We can all agree that work rejuvenates us. In fact, that’s probably what we were designed for: work. It gives us something to do. It gives us a sense of accomplishment, a basic humanistic need. So know this:
When we get to choose without judgement at helping someone out, it presents a good feeling inside. That’s the beauty of volunteering.