Lee...You've Been Lazy!

Today’s post is really an action item for myself...something to drive my own behaviour...and if it drives you too...then that’s a bonus.

Helping the less fortunate or needy is something we should all get involved in.  We ourselves will one day be old or be unfortunate to become ill...and so will be dependent on others.  We might not be able to get to the shops to buy food, be able to stand to cook or even possibly unable to feed ourselves, unable to look after our house or garden or tend to paying bills...the everyday things that we all take for granted.  So who is there to care for us?  Clearly we would all like to think that our children and family will be around to take good care of us...but what about if they aren’t?  Who do we turn to?  Who is going to care enough to want to help me?

Then there are those that are affected by disaster such as the hurricane in Haiti or the Tsunami in Asia.  These people were once fit and healthy and had a standard of living...which was wiped out by something out of their control.  Do we, the inhabitants of this planet have a duty to help them...you’re darn right we do.  Whether it be donating money, food, knowledge or time...we all have the ability to do something to help.  Imagine it happened to you...wouldn’t you like to think that someone would come to your rescue?

I have previously done charity work and have, like many of you, donated to good causes...but I for one, want to do more...can do more...should do more!

A couple of years ago, I wrote to a few local charities to offer my services free of charge...and do you know what...i either got no response or...and check this...they said they didn’t need me as they had more than enough volunteers!  WOW...hhhmmmm so I gave up on that... and now... I realise I was wrong to do so.  I recognise that I didn’t pursue it strongly enough...didn’t investigate more ways in which I could get involved and make a difference.

So what changed?  I watched a TV show last night that really struck a chord with me and made me realise that there are hundreds if not thousands of ways that I can get involved...if I just get off the sofa and actually do something about it.

The show was ‘The Hairy Bikers...Meals on Wheels’.  Don’t laugh...it was a serious show about two local volunteer groups that are trying to save the ‘Meals on wheels’ service in the areas as the government look to reduce funding or close the services all together.  So the Hairy Bikers stepped in to raise awareness and show that we can all ‘deliver a difference’ and can save money in the process.  They even managed to replace frozen processed foods with fresh produce...surely that has to be a good thing?  They even got HRH The Duchess of Cambridge involved who visited the Elmbridge Volunteer Center...that’s pretty high profile.

So it got me thinking...Lee...you’ve been lazy!  Here are a group of people actually doing something about it...putting themselves out to help others...actually ‘putting their money where their mouths are’ so to speak...basically...not just saying they want to help...but doing it.

So I immediately went on to my local council website and looked into the volunteering services...and what do I find...LOTS of opportunities to help!... Lee Lee Lee... you lazy lazy lazy boy...why didn’t you do this sooner?  I guess I could beat myself up more for not having taken action before... I’m going to focus on the positives and that is I AM going to do something about it now! 

I have also been campaigning for my company to get involved more in charities...not giving money... but giving time.  There are many people within my company that want to help... but with all the ‘red tape’, ‘insurance’ and ‘Health & Safety’ in the way, nothing gets done...it’s like pulling teeth.  People actually want to give up their own time and not company time to help out.  The local council volunteers site also has information about ‘group volunteers’...fantastic... opportunities to help regenerate areas, paint buildings, clear gardens...and many, many more things.

Clearly these are all local things that I am wanting to get involved in but there are so many more people around the world that need our help so please don’t just limit yourself to staying local...if you can do more...then why not!

I’m not about to preach to you...you are all your own people and can decide for yourselves whether you want to help... I would just urge you to at least think about it.  You don’t have to give a lot...but something, anything to help make a difference to someone else less fortunate than you.