Today is International Volunteers Day and we have 7000 of those here at Sidewalk Talk. 

Volunteers are a lively bunch because they are CHOOSING to turn up rather than beholden to turn up because of a wage.  

The volunteers here at Sidewalk Talk are some of my favorite people, and many have become my closest friends.  It is not uncommon for me to tear up talking to other volunteers about their experiences at Sidewalk Talk.  

Here are my favorite things about Sidewalk Talk volunteers…

• They are in it for the WE rather than the ME.

• They are really good listeners, seriously!

• They are caring people.

• They set and receive, kind boundaries so we can all work together.

• They give me feedback with kindness around my blind spots.

• They choose to stretch and grow personally and professionally.  

• They choose to think about others.

• They prize connection over scaling and notoriety. 

• They are all wildly brave, even if they don’t think they are. 

• They show up with the same integrity as they would if they were being paid, even though they aren’t.

• They look to help one another, and me, with ideas, initiatives, and roll up their sleeves to do the work. 

• They are good at vulnerability.

• They are mindful rather than judgemental.

• They are human, screw up, show up for a dialogue to fix the screw-up, apologize and restore justice.

Whoa...these are really good people. 

In a society that increasingly does not engage with a church or organized religion, my hope is Sidewalk Talk continues to grow in our community with each other and we have some hopes for more of that in 2020.

And, it turns out, volunteering is good for us. Check this research out from the Encyclopedia on Aging and Public Health.

“There are five reasons for benefits to [volunteering]: enhanced social integration; distraction from the agent's own problems; enhanced meaningfulness; increased perception of self‐efficacy and competence; and improved mood or more physically active lifestyle. Adult altruism (i.e., voluntary behavior that is “motivated by concern for the welfare of the other, rather than by anticipation of rewards”) has been associated with improved morale, self‐esteem, positive affect, and well‐being. The links between altruism and mental and physical health have been studied.” (Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health)

Post S.G. (2008) Altruism and Volunteerism. In: Loue S.J., Sajatovic M. (eds) Encyclopedia of Aging and Public Health. Springer, Boston, MA