An ancient sentiment brought forward in many cultures is that there is more happiness in giving than receiving. You don’t have to be a believer in the religions that spurred this idea to appreciate the wisdom of those words. In this article, we look at how the giving of your time in the form of volunteer service is one of the most rewarding things you can do during retirement.
Volunteering offers enormous benefits to the community. It also provides you with a tremendous sense of purpose and fulfillment – things which are often lacking in the lives of retirees.
There are many volunteering opportunities for retirees. Your local school would love to benefit from your life’s experience in all manner of ways. These include helping kids learn to read, sharing a ‘living history’ lesson, or helping them get to grips with their time tables.
You may decide to undertake a volunteering vacation. Often there is an opportunity to travel to national parks, do volunteer work in them and enjoy the beautiful sights that our country has to offer.
You will never run short of opportunities to volunteer. Before throwing yourself into a volunteer position, however, it would pay to ask the following questions:
- What is the time-frame for the assignment?
- Do you provide training and support for volunteers?
- Is there a job description for the volunteer position that lists the specific skills required?
Volunteering will provide you with purpose[1]. It will also allow you to make new social connections. You’ll be able to get to meet and befriend people of all ages. It will enable you to be a part of society. Often volunteers get to see a part of their community that they would otherwise be ignorant of. Along with these new experiences come new skills.
The experience of volunteering will also give you insight into the lives of others, allowing you to show empathy and fellow feeling. The benefits for both of you may be immeasurable.
In our next article, we’ll share the wisdom of fellow retirees as they share their secrets to a rewarding, fulfilling life after retirement.
Written by Steve T.
As well as being an author, Steve is experienced in helping people to reach their physical goals.
References
[1] Waxman B. How to Love Your Retirement. 2017
All articles are provided as general information and are not intended, nor may it be construed, as medical advice or instruction. Information and opinions expressed are believed to be correct and accurate to the best knowledge and judgement of the authors. Readers should consult their appropriately qualified health care professional prior to taking any action or inaction.