As a freshman in college, I went on a week long service trip. We tutored, cooked meals at a shelter, and helped refurbish a church into a school. I learned that volunteering can be fun and engaging, not a task we force ourselves to do because we think we should. I also met my boyfriend of five years on that trip.
I volunteered for an organization called Camp Laurel, which helps provide camps for kids infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. It was one of the most powerful experiences that I have ever had. It was eye-opening to see what these kids have to deal with at such an early age, and it gave me such an appreciation for all that I have in my life.
Volunteering with the Humane Society has had the deepest impact on me. Many years ago I did some dog walking for my local shelter and that inspired me to eventually adopt two dogs from the HS. I have also donated money and have done their annual Walk for Animals that helps raise much-needed funds to care for the pets waiting for their forever homes. It's very gratifying and inspiring to see the positive spirit and resilience of these animals and to know you're helping in some small way to get them the life they deserve.
I've volunteered as a Cub Scout leader, as a soccer coach & as a classroom volunteer and room mother. Volunteering in the classroom was a huge eye opener, in seeing everything that teachers have to do, what they have to deal with and how much effort they put into their classrooms and students. Teachers are definitely not paid enough and need more help and support than they get.
The volunteer opportunity that had the greatest impact on me, and my family, was opening up our home to a woman who was homeless and needed a place to stay for week until the local shelter had a bed ready for her. My daughter offered her room for the woman to sleep in and we enjoyed family meals with our guests, who happened to be a great storyteller. Her transparency about how she came to be homeless taught my family how fragile home stability can be, and how blessed we were to have each other. Our eyes were opened to the diverse reasons people become homeless, and how important it is not to judge others by their circumstances.
Working two jobs hasn't left me with much time to volunteer. Volunteering is more of a luxury for the rich and people who have lots of free leisure time. I do a little bit of online volunteer work providing advice and ideas and it's nice to help but didn't have much of an impact on me and I didn't share it with anyone else.
I volunteer to coach patients who have had all or part of their intestines removed due to illness or cancer. Sadly very few people are able to talk comfortably about their bowels, ileostomies or colostomies. Colon cancer is prevalent, but finding information from those who have been through the battle is not as common. Although I never want to see anyone battling a severe illness, I am grateful I can help in some way.
Volunteering with Girls on the Run has literally changed my life. It has given me self confidence, positive outlook on life, and a new way to reshape how I see myself, others and life. The life lessons provided in the book to give to the girls are applicable for coaches and women as well and are amazing. I started coaching in 2011 and love coaching every season.
Doing a day of work delivering meals in New York City to those who were too sick to leave their apartments. I was there as a group with my universities Honors Program and we had 2 days worth of volunteer work in addition to being tourists. Getting a chance to hear the stories of the people was so much fun.
A lifelong animal lover, I volunteered for several years at my local SPCA animal shelter. Not only did I enjoy caring for the sweet, lonely animals awaiting adoption, I was excited to have the chance to speak to potential adopters about the joys of pet ownership and to help match them with their ideal pets. I loved seeing children's faces light up when they held a kitten or cat for the first time, knowing first-hand how wonderful it is to grow up with a pet (or two or three!).
When I lived in NJ, I volunteered with an organization called "Hand in Hand". They had a festival celebration each year for people with Down's Syndrome. I volunteered to work with the games. I did it for several years as a young teen and I think it taught me to be accepting of people with special needs.
Being involved as an assistant troop leader with the Girls Scouts. My oldest daughter was in Girl Scouts for nine years. The last four years I was the assistant leader and my friend (who had two girls in the troop) was the leader and had been for all nine years. We had 10 girls in our troop. It was a great experience teaching these girls so many things, including how to start a fire, cook a meal over an open fire, how to use and maintain a pocket knife, rafting, horseback riding, fundraising (can you say Girl Scout Cookies!), giving back to the community (park clean-ups, dog/cat shelter collections), and how to work together as a team, as well as watching them as they grew into young adults. Most of these girls are 20 this year and have finished their second year in college. Some went right into the work force. All of them are confident, strong young women who I know will do well in the future. It gives me great pleasure knowing that in some way I helped give these girls the skills and tools they needed to succeed in life.
Although I have volunteered at our local food pantry, D.A.R.E. Night out events, etc, the one that really opened my eyes was when I volunteered to be on the board for the town's little league girls softball. I had no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes to make a league run. I did it for six years, and stepped down when my daughter went to high school. I still donate money to the league though.
Going to Honduras and volunteering in an orphanage had the greatest impact on me. Knowing that my children at home were loved and cared for (even without me being there physically for a few days) and these children were so starved for love and affection was heartwrenching. Some of them had physical and mental limitations and the workers cared for them physically, but didn't give them any emotional support. I realize how very blessed I am to have been born in the family I was, raised with love and support, and am able to pass that on to my children. It also makes me more conscious that I need to support those without such blessings.
I volunteer a lot at church. The activity that has impacted me the most (so far) has been working with the preschool craft/singing group. I seem to have a knack for teaching kids crafts.
I volunteered at a retirement center. It was eye opening. It can feel heavy on you when you go in because of the state of many of the occupants. You don't realize the loneliness of most of the elderly in homes, until you visit or work there. They love the interaction with anyone that comes by, and you can always expect a story or two, if you ask (they are anxious to share their lives with you). I left there with the determination to not let my elderly loved ones know they are loved and I will be there for them :)
I am close to purchasing a house with cash - partially with stock I have sold at record highs. I certainly see the argument that can be made for obtaining a mortgage at a low interest rate. This rate is further extended when considering the tax write offs. The extra funds placed in a house could easily be utilized to purchase other investments.
I see few great investments options at this time. A security with a good dividend can produce a solid return (my retirement accounts are filled with them), but they can quickly sink. Domestic index funds are wonderful when the market is down - as of this writing I think the market is overly inflated (Dow ~16500). Forget the bond market. International - risky and potent (I would feel better about an India Index fund -filled with companies I don't know- after I own a home).
The factors that motivate me to a cash purchase for a house are: improved closing speed, negotiation strategy, low closing cost, and better piece of mind for increasing one's risk tolerance for future investing. Home ownership will likely allow improved sleeping habits when making more volatile investments to reduce the correlation coefficient in a diversified asset allocation strategy.
A disclaimer: I would not pay cash for a house if I was unable to max out every tax advantage retirement account/Health Saving account option I have available. I would also not pay cash for a house if the price-to-rent ratio was unfavorable or if I did not plan to own the house for at least 15 years.
Good luck!
Great article, Linsey! I never knew the lighting can play such an important role in my productivity. However, I did notice that if I need to work on the computer at night, leaving only one light bulb on (usually there 2-3 bulbs on at the same time) and relying on the light coming from the screen helps me stay alert. Too much artificial light makes me feel more drowsy.
We're currently planning on renovating our house to make room for additional bedrooms. The labor fees, not to mention the materials, are simply too high and we're thinking of how to lessen the cost by doing some of the construction work ourselves. The problem is, none of us truly know what we're doing and your article only proves further that we are in need of an expert. We wouldn't want our roof to come down crashing on our heads!
Another former Latin student here who has no regrets about 4 years of Latin in high school and 2 semesters in college. I was a lousy student but had great teachers, whose enthusiasm and education had a good effect on me. The vocabulary boost extended beyond English to Spanish and German; the cultural background (incl. ancient Greek history and literature in translation) and interaction with other classics students lifted me a notch or two intellectually. It's not for everyone, but knocking Latin does not belong on this list. As a substitute, I'd suggest "Not learning a second language" (especially when you're young).
As a freshman in college, I went on a week long service trip. We tutored, cooked meals at a shelter, and helped refurbish a church into a school. I learned that volunteering can be fun and engaging, not a task we force ourselves to do because we think we should. I also met my boyfriend of five years on that trip.
I volunteered for an organization called Camp Laurel, which helps provide camps for kids infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. It was one of the most powerful experiences that I have ever had. It was eye-opening to see what these kids have to deal with at such an early age, and it gave me such an appreciation for all that I have in my life.
Volunteering with the Humane Society has had the deepest impact on me. Many years ago I did some dog walking for my local shelter and that inspired me to eventually adopt two dogs from the HS. I have also donated money and have done their annual Walk for Animals that helps raise much-needed funds to care for the pets waiting for their forever homes. It's very gratifying and inspiring to see the positive spirit and resilience of these animals and to know you're helping in some small way to get them the life they deserve.
I've volunteered as a Cub Scout leader, as a soccer coach & as a classroom volunteer and room mother. Volunteering in the classroom was a huge eye opener, in seeing everything that teachers have to do, what they have to deal with and how much effort they put into their classrooms and students. Teachers are definitely not paid enough and need more help and support than they get.
The volunteer opportunity that had the greatest impact on me, and my family, was opening up our home to a woman who was homeless and needed a place to stay for week until the local shelter had a bed ready for her. My daughter offered her room for the woman to sleep in and we enjoyed family meals with our guests, who happened to be a great storyteller. Her transparency about how she came to be homeless taught my family how fragile home stability can be, and how blessed we were to have each other. Our eyes were opened to the diverse reasons people become homeless, and how important it is not to judge others by their circumstances.
Volunteering with Habitat for Humanity was a wonderful experience. Every person in the world deserves to have affordable housing.
Working two jobs hasn't left me with much time to volunteer. Volunteering is more of a luxury for the rich and people who have lots of free leisure time. I do a little bit of online volunteer work providing advice and ideas and it's nice to help but didn't have much of an impact on me and I didn't share it with anyone else.
I volunteer to coach patients who have had all or part of their intestines removed due to illness or cancer. Sadly very few people are able to talk comfortably about their bowels, ileostomies or colostomies. Colon cancer is prevalent, but finding information from those who have been through the battle is not as common. Although I never want to see anyone battling a severe illness, I am grateful I can help in some way.
Volunteering with Girls on the Run has literally changed my life. It has given me self confidence, positive outlook on life, and a new way to reshape how I see myself, others and life. The life lessons provided in the book to give to the girls are applicable for coaches and women as well and are amazing. I started coaching in 2011 and love coaching every season.
Doing a day of work delivering meals in New York City to those who were too sick to leave their apartments. I was there as a group with my universities Honors Program and we had 2 days worth of volunteer work in addition to being tourists. Getting a chance to hear the stories of the people was so much fun.
Volunteering with the Peace Corps made the most impact on me personally and professionally.
A lifelong animal lover, I volunteered for several years at my local SPCA animal shelter. Not only did I enjoy caring for the sweet, lonely animals awaiting adoption, I was excited to have the chance to speak to potential adopters about the joys of pet ownership and to help match them with their ideal pets. I loved seeing children's faces light up when they held a kitten or cat for the first time, knowing first-hand how wonderful it is to grow up with a pet (or two or three!).
When I lived in NJ, I volunteered with an organization called "Hand in Hand". They had a festival celebration each year for people with Down's Syndrome. I volunteered to work with the games. I did it for several years as a young teen and I think it taught me to be accepting of people with special needs.
Being involved as an assistant troop leader with the Girls Scouts. My oldest daughter was in Girl Scouts for nine years. The last four years I was the assistant leader and my friend (who had two girls in the troop) was the leader and had been for all nine years. We had 10 girls in our troop. It was a great experience teaching these girls so many things, including how to start a fire, cook a meal over an open fire, how to use and maintain a pocket knife, rafting, horseback riding, fundraising (can you say Girl Scout Cookies!), giving back to the community (park clean-ups, dog/cat shelter collections), and how to work together as a team, as well as watching them as they grew into young adults. Most of these girls are 20 this year and have finished their second year in college. Some went right into the work force. All of them are confident, strong young women who I know will do well in the future. It gives me great pleasure knowing that in some way I helped give these girls the skills and tools they needed to succeed in life.
Although I have volunteered at our local food pantry, D.A.R.E. Night out events, etc, the one that really opened my eyes was when I volunteered to be on the board for the town's little league girls softball. I had no idea how much work goes on behind the scenes to make a league run. I did it for six years, and stepped down when my daughter went to high school. I still donate money to the league though.
Going to Honduras and volunteering in an orphanage had the greatest impact on me. Knowing that my children at home were loved and cared for (even without me being there physically for a few days) and these children were so starved for love and affection was heartwrenching. Some of them had physical and mental limitations and the workers cared for them physically, but didn't give them any emotional support. I realize how very blessed I am to have been born in the family I was, raised with love and support, and am able to pass that on to my children. It also makes me more conscious that I need to support those without such blessings.
volunteering at a food bank and seeing so many people in need had the deepest impact on me
I volunteer a lot at church. The activity that has impacted me the most (so far) has been working with the preschool craft/singing group. I seem to have a knack for teaching kids crafts.
I volunteered at a retirement center. It was eye opening. It can feel heavy on you when you go in because of the state of many of the occupants. You don't realize the loneliness of most of the elderly in homes, until you visit or work there. They love the interaction with anyone that comes by, and you can always expect a story or two, if you ask (they are anxious to share their lives with you). I left there with the determination to not let my elderly loved ones know they are loved and I will be there for them :)
I am close to purchasing a house with cash - partially with stock I have sold at record highs. I certainly see the argument that can be made for obtaining a mortgage at a low interest rate. This rate is further extended when considering the tax write offs. The extra funds placed in a house could easily be utilized to purchase other investments.
I see few great investments options at this time. A security with a good dividend can produce a solid return (my retirement accounts are filled with them), but they can quickly sink. Domestic index funds are wonderful when the market is down - as of this writing I think the market is overly inflated (Dow ~16500). Forget the bond market. International - risky and potent (I would feel better about an India Index fund -filled with companies I don't know- after I own a home).
The factors that motivate me to a cash purchase for a house are: improved closing speed, negotiation strategy, low closing cost, and better piece of mind for increasing one's risk tolerance for future investing. Home ownership will likely allow improved sleeping habits when making more volatile investments to reduce the correlation coefficient in a diversified asset allocation strategy.
A disclaimer: I would not pay cash for a house if I was unable to max out every tax advantage retirement account/Health Saving account option I have available. I would also not pay cash for a house if the price-to-rent ratio was unfavorable or if I did not plan to own the house for at least 15 years.
Good luck!
Great article, Linsey! I never knew the lighting can play such an important role in my productivity. However, I did notice that if I need to work on the computer at night, leaving only one light bulb on (usually there 2-3 bulbs on at the same time) and relying on the light coming from the screen helps me stay alert. Too much artificial light makes me feel more drowsy.
Joe, these videos sure did inspire me! LOL
We're currently planning on renovating our house to make room for additional bedrooms. The labor fees, not to mention the materials, are simply too high and we're thinking of how to lessen the cost by doing some of the construction work ourselves. The problem is, none of us truly know what we're doing and your article only proves further that we are in need of an expert. We wouldn't want our roof to come down crashing on our heads!
I watch TV to relax after a long day
Another former Latin student here who has no regrets about 4 years of Latin in high school and 2 semesters in college. I was a lousy student but had great teachers, whose enthusiasm and education had a good effect on me. The vocabulary boost extended beyond English to Spanish and German; the cultural background (incl. ancient Greek history and literature in translation) and interaction with other classics students lifted me a notch or two intellectually. It's not for everyone, but knocking Latin does not belong on this list. As a substitute, I'd suggest "Not learning a second language" (especially when you're young).
I read and it always relaxes me so I relax with a great romance book, I prefer historical or contemporary but love them all