This week, I spoke to over sixty 4^th and 5^th graders at a campfire worship time at church camp. It was fun!

Earlier in the summer, I did the same thing at the same camp for a group of middle school students. Later this summer I will work a whole week of church camp with a group of high school and middle school students. I also volunteer with my church, with Junior Achievement, and several other opportunities that pop up from time to time.

I volunteer because it helps to ignite my ENTHUSIASM!

There are many benefits to volunteering:

• It helps you connect with others.
• It is an opportunity to give back to the community.
• It is typically fun.
• It can help fight depression.
• And it keeps you active and involved.

However, the most repeated benefit I have heard from people who volunteer is that when they help other people they feel like they are receiving the most help. There is just something that happens to us when we serve other people without pay. Often times those who volunteer to benefit others end up receiving the biggest benefit.

Find opportunities to volunteer. Look for ways to help others without getting paid to do so. There is nothing wrong with getting paid for bringing value to an individual or organization. I encourage you to get paid for the value you provide. However, we need to take part of our time and talents and just use them out of the goodness of our hearts. As Winston Churchill said, “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

Find ways to give, to volunteer, to do something for the pure joy of simply making a difference. The world needs you to not just make money, the world needs you to volunteer…and you need it as well! Do not settle for just making a living…go make a life!