I've worked with my parents and volunteered in shelters, habitat for humanity, charity drives, etc. since I can remember. Throughout high school, I worked at a development center for physically and mentally disabled children helping with self care and fitting those with severe disabilities with mechanical and automated assistance technologies (breath-operated and specialized movement computer-interfaces, sight and voice devices). When I was on the road for 5 years with my band, I volunteered at the development center during the combined 4 or 5 weeks I was home each year. While on the road, I convinced several people to complete their educations, go to college. In my post-road band years ... I work with our local Hospice organization, mentor and tutor at schools, volunteer as a reading and computer literacy teacher at a public adult education project. I coach soccer for primary age kids and strength-training for some high-schoolers (coaching great way to encourage and empower kids).
In the last 3 years, I have developed a successful consulting career that allows me to also substitute teach for kids that are abused, special-needs, severely mentally handicapped, low-income and homeless, and kids that are in the juvenile system. I will soon go back for my master's in teaching arts specializing in behavior studies to do this full time.
I generally don't go on about my personal life in threads. But I see where Lebell is going with this. What do we do in our real lives to really change things? Are we just content to talk about it here or really do "something", if not just to be helpful and kind to our fellow man. Living by example is much stronger than words. I will never forget the incredible people I continue to learn from daily.
I don't expect that everyone should be called to serve others with extreme gestures. We must live our lives and meet responsibilities. I would not hesitate to drop anything I volunteer for or give charity to if my family, job, or responsibilities begin to suffer. I'm not religious by any stretch, but my personal spiritual convictions tell me to strive to do what we can ... kind of a karma thing.
... Nice thread Lebell.
