Volunteering

Posted by Renee Hoyt on Dec 02, 2009 at 7:56pm I must admit that I have had a few very tough days lately, where I struggle with feeling depressed.

However, in between my never-ending job search and the adoption frustrations, volunteering has been the light in my life (as well as writing these blogs) - something to help me feel like I help others with my words and thoughts. Here is a short article I wrote for RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, to use in their volunteer documentation.

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For those who have gone through infertility, you know that everyone's experience can be different, depending upon our situation. At times we are sad, angry, confused and at other times we can feel empowered because of decisions we have made or support we get from those around us.

RESOLVE gives people a chance to make a difference in others' infertility journeys and we call it the Volunteer Network. Most of the people working with RESOLVE are volunteers. This is a unique opportunity to help a person whose situation may be very similar to your own or perhaps different in the paths you are following. Reaching out helps you to not feel so isolated in your experience and also may help you make a new friend who has the same issues you do. This is also a way for us to exercise some control where our infertility has taken some away from us.

Many of the people who volunteer have had our own infertility journeys. Some are doing this due to a family member's personal battle with infertility. Many had the opportunity to utilize RESOLVE's programs or support networks and just want to "give back" to those who are like us.

From personal experience, I can tell you that some of us choose to volunteer instead of traditional therapy methods such as counseling. This is a way for us to speak with others in our situation without the formality of a therapist discussing our decisions on a regular basis. As the National Volunteer Coordinator for RESOLVE, the rewarding feeling I have gotten from my communication with others on our journey has been immediate, and extremely satisfying. It also helps me to discuss my enthusiasm for the organization that specializes in support of our battle, when so many people around us do not understand what we are going through. As Booker T. Washington said, "If you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else"

While my preference has been to volunteer for RESOLVE since my infertility journey has been what has consumed the past several years of my life, you may choose to work for the American Red Cross, or a charitable organization that fights hunger, or poverty. Whatever you select, you will feel empowered when you give your time, talents and dedication to a cause you believe in. Don't feel that you do not have enough time to do anything worthwhile: "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." -Aesop

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