What Drives You?
What drives you? I mean what really gets you going in the morning? What keeps you awake at night?
Many times it's your calling or purpose and because of lifestyle choices, commitments, careers, and family you ignore it, until it either quietly dies or it manifests in a way that you cannot ignore.
For me, it's making sure everyone has enough. By everyone, I mean just that - EVERYONE.
No one deserves to go without decent clothes, or be forced to choose which utility to pay - their electricity, heat or water, and no one ever deserves to go hungry. Especially our children and the elderly who are often times forgotten. It's often thought that "someone else" or a governmental subsidiary program will solve the problems of those who struggle to survive every day. While many programs offer some assistance, the cold hard truth is that many people go without every day.
I remember growing up, the kitchen was the gathering place in my family. My grandmother always asked if those in her kitchen were hungry and there was always something to eat on the table. I do the same thing today - if you visit my home you'll be asked if you're hungry and often times you'll leave with goody boxes. In all those years, I never thought my love for cooking and ensuring family and friends have plenty to eat would develop into something bigger than me. But it did.
In 2007, as I transitioned my career from healthcare over to the corporate world, I learned that teambuilding activities provided the perfect opportunity to give back to the community. A colleague suggested my team volunteer at the local food bank and after the first visit, I was intrigued with the food bank's mission and vision. I left that afternoon very impressed. Here was an organization that provided food to the hungry on a much grander scale than I, but they were doing the same thing, in principle anyway. I found myself wanting to be part of the bigger effort. For a few years, it was just volunteering for a couple of hours, but one day while working in the warehouse sorting donated items for distribution to area food pantries, I felt the proverbial lightning bolt. This is what fulfills me - making sure others I may never meet, have enough for their family.
I began to formulate a plan to get others involved. I used my love of connecting with and building relationships to find common ground and bring people together. This also allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeper into the business side of not for profit organizations. Unknowingly, I was following my passion and the full impact of what was building hadn't hit me. It would be a few years before that realization came full circle.
Over the next few years, it was hit or miss. The turning point occurred when I joined a new company that also runs their own charitable foundation. Within a year, I had formed the beginning of a beautiful and lasting partnership by coordinating teambuilding events and introducing our foundation to the food bank. Most of the corporate officers of the food bank are passionate and driven by the mission, which aligns perfectly with my own passion and drive.It was a win-win for all. But I still felt I should be doing more to help them end hunger. The purpose and drive were building and while I didn't know the outcome - I trusted I was on the right path.
They say that everything happens for a reason, and I believe that. In the course of one very short and lightning fast year I became deeply involved in the mission and activities of not only the food bank, but our small and growing foundation. While working at an event, I realized a critical piece of the passion was missing. The missing piece was the relationship with the overall volunteer army. There wasn't much recognition or individual acknowledgement from many of the corporate officers, outside from those who work closely with the volunteer base. I was still in my corporate role as a customer experience specialist, and those skills easily transferred over; leading me to the following question; how do non profit organizations recognize, acknowledge, maintain and sustain the relationships with the groups of people who take the time to volunteer? They're taking time out of their lives that could easily be spent on other things. How huge is that? I am completely all about people and relationships. If you treat others with appreciation, trust and respect the end results are absolutely amazing. So I set out on a new mission. I began to connect with and build deep lasting realtionships with the very volunteers that were doing so much with little expectation of anything in return. Being naturally grateful for everything in my life, it was easy to sincerely acknowldege and recognize others for all they were doing to help. Gratitude will open the very doors that seem impossible to open...
Don't believe it? Try listing 5 things your'e grateful for every day for a month. See if your outlook and your life doesn't improve...
After 4 years of feeling "there's more I should be doing", it felt as though things were beginning to fall into place when, 2 years ago, I was suddenly blessed with the opportunity to lead our small, yet mighty foundation.
It was during a personal crisis shortly after that I discovered my true purpose: to connect, engage, and build deep relationships that impact the lives of others in a positive manner. As an organization, we were now positioned to help even more families in need. With the help of some very special colleagues and an army of volunteers who were committed to our mission, we built a tightly woven community, as well as an external chartiable organization community. We built these communities on gratitude and appreciation. Every volunteer was acknowledged and recognized and appreciated throughout the year. Every day my passion to connect others and expand our reach and impact in a positive manner grew deeper, and every day I woke up with this purpose driving my actions. Until... a year later, suddenly we found that our small foundation was going to be dissolved. Apparently, I haven't quite come "full circle" just yet...there's more for me to do. Through it all I still wake up every morning with a burning desire to connect with and help others without expectation, and I lie awake at night thinking of those who must go without...that's what drives me
So....what drives you?
Many times it's your calling or purpose and because of lifestyle choices, commitments, careers, and family you ignore it, until it either quietly dies or it manifests in a way that you cannot ignore.
For me, it's making sure everyone has enough. By everyone, I mean just that - EVERYONE.
No one deserves to go without decent clothes, or be forced to choose which utility to pay - their electricity, heat or water, and no one ever deserves to go hungry. Especially our children and the elderly who are often times forgotten. It's often thought that "someone else" or a governmental subsidiary program will solve the problems of those who struggle to survive every day. While many programs offer some assistance, the cold hard truth is that many people go without every day.
I remember growing up, the kitchen was the gathering place in my family. My grandmother always asked if those in her kitchen were hungry and there was always something to eat on the table. I do the same thing today - if you visit my home you'll be asked if you're hungry and often times you'll leave with goody boxes. In all those years, I never thought my love for cooking and ensuring family and friends have plenty to eat would develop into something bigger than me. But it did.
In 2007, as I transitioned my career from healthcare over to the corporate world, I learned that teambuilding activities provided the perfect opportunity to give back to the community. A colleague suggested my team volunteer at the local food bank and after the first visit, I was intrigued with the food bank's mission and vision. I left that afternoon very impressed. Here was an organization that provided food to the hungry on a much grander scale than I, but they were doing the same thing, in principle anyway. I found myself wanting to be part of the bigger effort. For a few years, it was just volunteering for a couple of hours, but one day while working in the warehouse sorting donated items for distribution to area food pantries, I felt the proverbial lightning bolt. This is what fulfills me - making sure others I may never meet, have enough for their family.
I began to formulate a plan to get others involved. I used my love of connecting with and building relationships to find common ground and bring people together. This also allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and dive deeper into the business side of not for profit organizations. Unknowingly, I was following my passion and the full impact of what was building hadn't hit me. It would be a few years before that realization came full circle.
Over the next few years, it was hit or miss. The turning point occurred when I joined a new company that also runs their own charitable foundation. Within a year, I had formed the beginning of a beautiful and lasting partnership by coordinating teambuilding events and introducing our foundation to the food bank. Most of the corporate officers of the food bank are passionate and driven by the mission, which aligns perfectly with my own passion and drive.It was a win-win for all. But I still felt I should be doing more to help them end hunger. The purpose and drive were building and while I didn't know the outcome - I trusted I was on the right path.
They say that everything happens for a reason, and I believe that. In the course of one very short and lightning fast year I became deeply involved in the mission and activities of not only the food bank, but our small and growing foundation. While working at an event, I realized a critical piece of the passion was missing. The missing piece was the relationship with the overall volunteer army. There wasn't much recognition or individual acknowledgement from many of the corporate officers, outside from those who work closely with the volunteer base. I was still in my corporate role as a customer experience specialist, and those skills easily transferred over; leading me to the following question; how do non profit organizations recognize, acknowledge, maintain and sustain the relationships with the groups of people who take the time to volunteer? They're taking time out of their lives that could easily be spent on other things. How huge is that? I am completely all about people and relationships. If you treat others with appreciation, trust and respect the end results are absolutely amazing. So I set out on a new mission. I began to connect with and build deep lasting realtionships with the very volunteers that were doing so much with little expectation of anything in return. Being naturally grateful for everything in my life, it was easy to sincerely acknowldege and recognize others for all they were doing to help. Gratitude will open the very doors that seem impossible to open...
Don't believe it? Try listing 5 things your'e grateful for every day for a month. See if your outlook and your life doesn't improve...
After 4 years of feeling "there's more I should be doing", it felt as though things were beginning to fall into place when, 2 years ago, I was suddenly blessed with the opportunity to lead our small, yet mighty foundation.
It was during a personal crisis shortly after that I discovered my true purpose: to connect, engage, and build deep relationships that impact the lives of others in a positive manner. As an organization, we were now positioned to help even more families in need. With the help of some very special colleagues and an army of volunteers who were committed to our mission, we built a tightly woven community, as well as an external chartiable organization community. We built these communities on gratitude and appreciation. Every volunteer was acknowledged and recognized and appreciated throughout the year. Every day my passion to connect others and expand our reach and impact in a positive manner grew deeper, and every day I woke up with this purpose driving my actions. Until... a year later, suddenly we found that our small foundation was going to be dissolved. Apparently, I haven't quite come "full circle" just yet...there's more for me to do. Through it all I still wake up every morning with a burning desire to connect with and help others without expectation, and I lie awake at night thinking of those who must go without...that's what drives me
So....what drives you?
Comments
Post a Comment