Volunteerism: Showing Concern and Respect for Others
The primary requisite for any volunteer is to be motivated by a genuine concern for others and to show respect to the one they are trying to help. Often you will find that as you volunteer, you end up receiving much more in return, in the form of happiness, understanding others, and thankfulness for all that you have. We hope the following articles, quotes and anecdotes will encourage you as you give more of yourself to others in the days ahead!
Respecting Others:
The greatest need of mankind is to be cared for, accepted, and appreciated.
No matter what work we do as volunteers, we will undoubtedly come in contact with different types of people, but the important thing is; how we view them or the mindsets we have when working with them. This will go a long way in determining whether we will ultimately be successful in helping them.
A key in being a successful “people person” and bringing out the best in people is having an attitude of kindness, respect and faith in them. Love and respect can take on many forms. It can be shown in deeds of kindness, in concern for others, through words of comfort, encouragement and appreciation, and even by simply giving a smile or remembering to speak positively.
Such kind deeds warm our hearts, give strength, encouragement, and renew our lives in many wonderful ways. Duty makes us do things well, but love makes us do them beautifully
The following motivational anecdote reminds us of the value in each individual:
“Who Still Wants It”
A motivational speaker started his seminar by holding up a $20 bill. In the room of 200, he asked, “Who would like this $20 bill?” Hands started going up.
He said, “I am going to give this $20 to one of you, but first, let me do this.” He proceeded to crumple the bill.
He then asked, “Who still wants it?” Still the hands were up in the air.
“Well,” he replied, “what if I do this?” He dropped it on the ground and started to grind it into the floor with his shoe.
He picked it up, now crumpled and dirty. “Now who still wants it?” Still the hands went into the air.
“My friends, you have all learned a very valuable lesson. No matter what I did to the money, you still wanted it because it did not decrease in value. It was still worth the same.’’
“Many times in our lives, we are crumpled, dropped, and ground into the dirt by the decisions we make and the circumstances that come our way. We feel as though we are worthless. But no matter what has happened or what will happen, we will never lose our value. Dirty or clean, crumpled or finely creased, we are still priceless.”
Quotes on Volunteering
Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls. - David Thomas
The breeze, the trees, the honey bees –All volunteers! - Juliet Carinreap
Kindness is the language which the deaf can hear and the blind can see. - Mark Twain
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. - Nelson Henderson
Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart. - Elizabeth Andrew
How beautiful a day can be, when kindness touches it! - George Elliston
The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention. - Oscar Wilde
How far a little candle throws its beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world. - William Shakespeare
The purpose in life is not to be happy, but to matter, to be productive, to be useful, to have it make some difference that you have lived at all. - Leo Rosten
31-10-2013
