Sarah Jagger, JD, MPH
Former Vice President of Operations
Last week I found myself complaining to my mom and sister about my inability to say no. I was 5 hours into painting and gluing costumes for my son’s upcoming “The Lion King Kids” performance, my back and knees were screaming at me, and I was only partway done. I told them I had taken this project on at a time when (I thought) I was too busy with a million other things. Why couldn’t I just say no?
After giving me a hard time for my stupid decision to work on the floor and not use a table, they quickly brought me back to the reasons that I had said YES. I was reminded that I said YES because:
- It was an opportunity to support a worthy organization.
- I am good at making things with my hands.
- I enjoy this sort of creative outlet and wish I had more opportunities to exercise these skills.
- I wanted to set a good example for my children.
- Saying yes made me feel good.
My mom wisely said, “The world runs on volunteering.” She told me that she hoped that she and my father had set that example for me and my siblings when we were kids. My parents have always been ALL IN, volunteering at our school, our church, coaching organized sports, and leading other extracurriculars for us kids. I grew up thinking that giving of your time was just part of being an adult. I didn’t know you could say no. What a wonderful lesson!
I am sharing this in case you also need a reminder that the world needs you to say yes. If you are feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world and wondering what you can do (as many of us have felt as of late), consider that you can do something other than sending money (though let me be clear: that is also needed). You can give of your time and talents to organizations wherever you call home.
“The best way to not feel hopeless is to get up and do something. Don’t wait for good things to happen to you. If you go out and make some good things happen, you will fill the world with hope, you will fill yourself with hope.”
April is National Volunteer Month in the U.S. and there are a lot of wonderful organizations that could use a helping hand. You can find opportunities within the organizations and communities you are already engaged. Or, if you aren’t sure how to plug in, check out https://www.volunteermatch.org/. The site allows you to filter volunteer opportunities by cause, location, and skill set so you can find the right fit for your special skills. They even have virtual volunteering options if that works best for you.