Here are a few scenarios:
You have a job you don’t particularly care for. It pays the bills, but nothing you do in it will make much difference to anyone…it’s just a job. And you are not happy doing it, but you need the income.
OR…you have finally retired. You’ve been looking forward to this for years, and now you’re free to do what you want. But now you’re not sure what you want! You’re watching TV, clipping grocery coupons, and you’re finding yourself at loose ends. Wasn’t retirement supposed to be fulfilling? Is this all there is?
Or maybe you’re actually reasonably happy, but what you’ve been doing in your spare time does not matter much to anyone, including you.
If any of that seems to resonate with you, you may be missing out on the chance to personally make things better for everyone in your neighborhood, or even for the world at large. There is a reason why billionaires often turn into happy philanthropists – Warren Buffett and Bill Gates are two prominent examples; they made the money, now they’re giving it away to worthy causes. Money is a way of keeping score; but making a difference with it is pretty much the only way that money can actually buy you happiness.
But, actually, you really don’t need money to make a difference – just some of your time.
And just one of the ways to do it, while meeting and making friends with people in your neighborhood, is to volunteer for your own neighborhood association. Every part of Portland has one – there are over fifty of them – and it’s a volunteer “micro-government” just for your neighborhood. Portland is a city of neighborhoods, which is why it feels more like a collection of appealing small towns than being one of the thirty biggest metropolitan areas in the United States.
We’ve spoken about getting involved in your own neighborhood association several times in the past, but maybe – as the year turns to 2025 – now is the time. Our city government is changing, with the new City Council and Mayor structure; but, for your neighborhood association, it’s still all about the little “town” in which you live.
Getting involved in your own community’s affairs as a volunteer is still a very fulfilling way to help your neighbors, and also to get acquainted with those who live where you do.
Another way is to join a “Service Club”. These are congenial groups of people it’s fun to get to know, who have the purpose of benefiting the community and the world by their efforts. Your editor has been involved in Rotary Clubs for forty years and has found it fulfilling, but there are others to consider that do similar work, such as Lions International and Kiwanis, among various others.
There are also nonprofits devoted to assisting with specific parts of the lives we live – from the Red Cross to Civic Clubs to business associations to organizations fighting for various causes. Every one of them is looking for volunteers to help.
There’s even a volunteer organization to provide services and social opportunities for those seeking to “age in place”, here in Southeast Portland: “Eastside Village” (not an actual village, but an idea – a “community” for those aging in place) is the one serving the area roughly bounded by THE BEE’s distribution area; for more information, its website is – http://www.eastsidevillage.org
In fact, if any of these ideas sparks any interest in you, virtually all of these organizations have websites with more information on what they do and how you can get involved. An Internet search will find most of them for you (but avoid the paid listings at the top of the search pages of the major search engines!).
There’s almost always room in your life for an extra activity that gives you pleasure, and the satisfaction of fulfilling a purpose.
If you haven’t found one or more yet, why not make it your New Year’s Resolution for 2025 to find one that’s just right for you, and get involved in it?
And if you have the time, you certainly don’t have to limit yourself to just one!
