Pay Attention
Does volunteering, reaching out where you are needed, help to fill your cup?
I volunteer in my son’s kindergarten classroom once a week. The teacher usually has me work on a project. Last week I had to create a poster, using a bit of my imagination, but mostly following a given pattern. I was able to see my son working and be in a happy environment, and complete the given task with little stress.
Walking home after my volunteer time, it was raining, but my step was light, my mood bright, smiling came easy. I noticed how good I felt. What I did was simple and not only did I help out where help was needed, I enjoyed it.
Now I’m not totally sure if this “fills my cup”, but it doesn’t drain it. Along with doing things that give me fuel it is necessary that my volunteering is life giving not life draining. It’s okay to receive benefits from giving to others. The chores and tasks we do for others doesn’t have to come with a heavy cross to bear across our shoulders, our step can be light and our mood bright, looking forward to the job.
It’s okay to say “no” if your heart isn’t in it and it’s okay to say “yes” because you get something out of it, too.
What heaviness can you remove from your cup to make room for something else? What do you notice when you pay attention to how you feel? When you share your valuable time, what is your step like heavy and burdensome or light and life giving? Just askin’.