What are you PASSIONATE about?

[Rhi-Anon]

I have a good friend who is a volunteer child's advocate for the local family court system. She grew up in a couple of foster families and this has fueled her desire to take care of these kids. I just talked to her and I am impressed with how much of herself she devotes to this cause.

Now I'm feeling a little lost, myself, like I could be doing something, and I probably should be doing something, but what???

I'd like to know-- you all are a varied (very varied!) group of people-- what is your passion???

[KimE]

I would have to say volunteering of any kind!! I to volunteer with the court system for youth offenders. In fact I have the board tonight, every other Tuesday. I am doing it at nights now because I work and I am kind of in training so that when I retire I can do the CASA Child Advocacy.
Also the enviroment....and human rights...and I guess you could say I am passionate about a lot :rolleyes:

I guess I would boil it down to personal responsability to all.

Kim

[mcgeiger]

This is probably a huge shocker---animals. :p Over the years I have volunteered in everything from animal care, education, and animal rights (the pitbull ban in Lafayette that I spoke out against and wrote letters for did NOT, I repeat NOT, go through--they raised off leash fines, and set definitive standards for vicious dogs and their consequences!!!!!!!!!!).

[Chefzhat]

I volunteer and tutor at our local "orphanage" for lack of a better word. The kids that are taken from homes that are dysfunctional. So I spend time with them trying to create "normal" while they are in our care. I cook, mentor, tutor, raise funds, and provide hugs and love. These kids are my passion, and I wish that I could find a way to work with them all the time.

[hlao23]

My biggest passion is theatre. I'm heavily involved in one of our local community theatres both on-stage and behind the scenes. I probably am on-stage for about 5 shows a year. I'm also usually involved in some sort of dance lessons.

Good-cause volunteer stuff currently:
Committee for local walkability issues
Leading an effort to assess air quality in local businesses

'bout it right now I think.

[GingerPow]

I am passionate about raising my children to be the people they came to this earth to be, to share their gifts, to walk their truest path, and to know that they are glorious creations of God.

I am passionate about taking opportunities to tell all people to be the people they came to this earth to be, to share their gifts, to walk their truest path, and to know that they are glorious creations of God.

So, to you reading this, I say...
Be the person you came to this earth to be, share your gifts, walk your truest path, and know that you are a glorious creation of God.

[SusanMac]

My passion is kids. I really enjoy kids, and think we often under-estimate how what we do now with children will impact all of our futures. So, ever since DH & I decided to be child-free, I've done various volunteer work with kids.

I'm in my 5th year of tutoring math & reading to 2nd graders.

I'm also looking into Girls On the Run for a new avenue. If you're interested, go here to see if there's a chapter in your area: www.gotr.org They promote healthy self-esteem & body image for young girls.

I have a passion for animals and healthy lifestyles, but havent' done any volunteer or career work in those areas yet. Maybe one day.

I'd say if you're nervous, unsure or on the fence, just find something & jump in to test it, even if just for a month. It's the only way to know if it's a fit for you. Your passion will probably grow once you get started.

[AndreaU]

Animals, particularly dogs. DH and I have often talked about (someday) buying a house with lots of land and opening a sanctuary/foster care place for dogs. I have to pet every dog I meet; it kills me if I can't!

Actually, I was just driving home today and a big ol' yellow lab came jogging across the main road in our village during fairly heavy traffic. I did as my instinct told me to- stopped my car (yes, I pulled over on the shoulder!), called for him/her, she came right over to me and rolled over for a belly rub. She had no tags but since she crossed the street I took her back that way and, fortuntately, her owner just came out of the house looking for her.

[KAnn]

This is probably a huge shocker---animals. :p Over the years I have volunteered in everything from animal care, education, and animal rights....


Me, too! Animals, animal rights and vegetarianism. I have beeen passionate about animals since I was a child.

(I also am a passionate Democrat, but volunteering for animals and animal shelters and causes are my focus of late)

I think little is as satisfying as volunteer work.

[Aubergine]

strictly in terms of volunteer work/community involvement, i've done so much over the years...but now that the kids are older, and i've learned to stop raising my hand to volunteer for everything:rolleyes:, i've winnowed it down to two areas currently: feeding the needy (through local food pantries, soup kitchens, etc.) and Big Bros/Big Sisters recruitment efforts, since mine were "Littles" who gained enormously from the program, and it's my turn to give back. also, these are two areas where there are fewer and fewer volunteers. PTA, Scouting, Soccer--they automatically have a large pool of parents to draw from.

the one thing i've always wanted to do is be a Literacy Volunteer, since words and reading are perhaps my greatest personal passion, and i cannot begin to imagine what it must be like not to be able to read. however, it requires a serious commitment of at least one year that i cannot now make, but one day will.

Rhi, don't get involved in doing something because you think you "should" be doing it...when the time is right, you won't even have to think twice. i didn't begin until my late 30's.

[Angelina]

the one thing i've always wanted to do is be a Literacy Volunteer, since words and reading are perhaps my greatest personal passion, and i cannot begin to imagine what it must be like not to be able to read. however, it requires a serious commitment of at least one year that i cannot now make, but one day will.



I hope you are able to do this someday...it's really so rewarding!! I was volunteering for a while teaching reading and writing to a lady from Liberia who was working in a hospital. Their union had set up a school where people could study for their GED, take certifications or just learning the basics...

We became good friends and when she got married, I wrote on her behalf to her family in Africa to give them the good news. And she invited me to her wedding! It was a beautiful traditional ceremony. Anyway, I digress. The rewards of teaching are great. :)

My passion, besides teaching, is animals. I have volunteered for years at a local shelter, took a break, and I am starting again this saturday as a team leader for a group of volunteers. :)

Angela

[jjsooner73]

The use the motto of the children's hospital I volunteer at, my passion is "Making Lives Better for Children". Within that, I enjoy working with children who are disadvantaged some way--medically fragile, developmentally delayed, etc.
This passion led to a career change 2 years ago and I am now a special education teacher.
Over the last 8 years, I've been a Big Sis, done 4 cancer camps, put in about 1300 hours at the Children's hospital (that actually includes the camps), and volunteered for a respite program for families with children with disabilities. I also volunteer in the annual holiday parade that benefits the hospital. All of these experiences have enriched my life beyond anything else I've done.

I'm moving to another state soon, and the things I will miss most about my home for the last 7 years will be my (not quite anymore) weekly trips to the hospital, seeing the kids from the respite program grow and flourish, and my students. Oh, and Central Market.

[Denise]

Another animal lover here! I was a foster home for rescued aussies for a number of years. It was both very rewarding (the dogs) and very frustrating (the people), but I was able to save 20 + aussies from euthanasia and find them good homes.

In high school I did some volunteer work for a day care for elderly people. It was fantastic, like having a bunch of extra grandparents.

I guess my advice would be a little different then Aubergine's. I'd say jump in and try a few things. If you don't like them after a few visits you can always stop, but its hard to tell how you'll feel about a program until you've experienced it.

[jmarie]

I am passionate about my job, for one. I am blessed to get to deal with about 120 children on any given school day. It's my job to see to it that their school day starts and ends with a smile.

The rewards are wonderful. The other day, a middle school child I have been greeting for three years, with no response whatsoever, sat in the front of the bus and told me a fishing story and said goodbye when he got off.

I am an advocate for my children and they know it.

I am passionate about a great deal of things, but my job was the first to come to mind.

Joyce

[LakeMartinGal]

I joined the local volunteer fire department to give back to the community! We are a small community, and a department of 25 - 30 souls to service 8 sq miles -- we have a lot of seasonal residents, and a lot of older residents, not to mention that it's a vacation area. We are First Responders, and most of the men are trained firemen. Some of our volunteers are nurses, and some just do clerical work for us... You don't have to fight fires to be a volunteer!

My other area of volunteerism is sewing with the church ladies. We make Angel Dolls, which are then given to children going into hospitals, or other difficult situations -- some were sent to New Orleans for Katrina victims...

I was a 'band mom' when my kids were in high school, but did little else at that time... don't know if they would welcome volunteers there that didn't have kids in the band...

Love my dogs, but DH wouldn't stand for taking in others...

[GingerPow]

strictly in terms of volunteer work/community involvement, i've done so much over the years...but now that the kids are older, and i've learned to stop raising my hand to volunteer for everything:rolleyes:,
I understand that! "Yes" would pop out of my mouth so easily when asked "Would you help with...?" Having done so much with the kids' schools, afterschool, church, and community over the past 20 years (gladly), I've also narrowed it down to a couple of pet projects.

One is helping a lady with a Remembrance & Healing Service for people whose children have died. We just had our 8th annual service last Monday.

I have also found that so many opportunities are presented in daily life to help someone. If you keep your eyes and ears open, you can be someone's angel any day of the week.