Thursday 13 - volunteer jobs

 
Since I was a small child I have done a lot of volunteer jobs.
Let's mention a few.

1. My mom hardly left the house.
   So since I was 4 (!!!) I did the groceries around the village.
   
   
2. When I went to school age 6 to 12 I passed a few houses for the elderly.
   I went there a few times a week, or when they called me in, to do their groceries or help them with gardening.
   Opa and Oma Roos and Mevr. Nagelkerke...I still remember them.
   
   
3. When I was at my gram I got her heavy groceries in the shops nearby or accompanied her to town. I always brought the groceries up the stairs. When I was not there she used to leave them downstairs so I could bring them up.
   When my gram got older I helped her with cleaning, cooking and odd jobs around the house too.
   
   
4. I helped the nuns (Ursulins) with the fruit harvest.
   
   
5. At college and university I helped where ever I could.
   One of the tasks was showing the new students around at university and in town.
   
   
6. I volunteered at the church at school and when we came to live here in this church too.
   Reading, organising. I stopped when I needed them after the death of my second baby, and none had a few minutes to spend.
   
   
7. I voluntered as a study object in the hospital. Measuring my growth was the first one. Giving blood the most occuring one.
   I now teach about doctor patient relationships.
   
   
8. I have volunteered for a heart organisation for a couple of years, until they attached more value to a 2 day course than my professional experience. "You re just a volunteer" has stuck in my mind. But they wanted all my professional skills and knowledge... Yea right.
   
   
9. I have run a national volunteer organisation to support people who lost their babies and those who got pregnant again after a horrible experience like that. I taught about the subject and adviced professionals. I did that over 30 years. Got a lot of things changed.
   
   
10. I was a volunteer journalist. Educated in all aspects by the Jesuits (worked there for free because of that.). I published at all sorts of places. From a magazine for youngsters to bookreviews for a religious magazine. From articles for a national TV company to running the paper of a friend when I was badly ill.
    I have taught quite some starting journalists. Was an acknoeledged educator
    
    
11. I have been an advisor on childcare, medical issues and psychological issues.
    
    
12. I am a carer for several people. I don't feel that part of my life as a free choice.
    
    
13. I volunteer now as a psychological carer for veterans.
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    

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About **Syl

Syl: "Life is a chain of challenges. Sometimes the largest challenges are we ourselves. Facing life, facing others and facing yourself requires either a worryless attitude or plain courage. Most of the time it is dealing with judgement. Maybe life is about getting rid of it."