Never too old to volunteer

Yesterday we had a group of people who were associated with Martin Luther King Day Governor's Commission volunteering at Second Harvest Heartland. They, along with a few other volunteers bagged over 7,000 pounds of potatoes during their three hour shift.  One of the participants had her mother join us, who had recently traveled up from New Orleans.  She was 95 years old.

It was amazing to visit with this lovely lady who still had a thirst for travel and learning about others from around the world.  I was inspired by her curiosity, positive attitude and willingness to help others.

Risk and reward

This past year the stock market provided an excellent example of the rewards of taking calculated risk with one's financial resources.  The Standard and Poor's 500 index ended the year up nearly 30 percent.   On the other hand, the much more traditionally safe investments of treasury notes returned less than three percent, while bonds lost two percent over the year.

While it was only recently we were reminded how the stock market can also drop dramatically, on average it outperforms other traditional investments that are considered much less risky.  Such is life, isn't it?  To receive a significant gain of any value one must take significant risks.

My biggest risks over the years also reaped the greatest gains.... leaving home for college, spending my junior year abroad, getting married and adopting our child.  All of these were great risks, and brought me well outside of my comfort zone, but also helped me to grow and a person.

While directing a mentoring program I often reminded people that the significant risk and investment required to become a mentor could also yield a great gain, not only for the child being mentored, but also the volunteer doing the mentoring. People who only want to make a brief, one shot volunteer commitment shouldn't expect the significant kinds of returns of those who make a great investment of themselves and their time.

So, as you enter the new year, what risks might you consider taking to help you grow and possibly yield a great return on your investment of your time or money?

Finding purpose provides health benefits for seniors

In an article "To keep sharp, find purpose", Neal St. Anthony notes how that even through retirement people still need a purpose in life.  He cites Richard Leider, a management consultant and author of "Life Reimagined", who notes how the healthiest seniors are those who are the most engaged in something; ranging from tennis, volunteering or art.

It has been interesting to witness many seniors who are regular volunteers at Second Harvest Heartland.  Not only do they seem to benefit by making a positive difference for others less fortunate, they also reap the added perks of social interaction.