Helping people.
No matter which personality profile I use (Enneagram, Myers-Briggs, etc.), I always end up in a category that likes to be a helper. Sometimes my personality type is actually called “The Helper”.
I’m not a take-charge-and-lead type of person (too much responsibility!) but I do get a lot of joy out of being a behind-the-scenes helper.
Knowing that I am making a difference in people’s lives makes me feel alive because it makes me feel like I am doing something important.
Of course, most of the helping that I do is not Important (with a capital I) to the world; no one will learn about me in history books. But the helping that I do is Important (with a capital I) to the individuals that I’m helping, and I think that makes it valuable.
My desire to be a helper is the driving force behind a lot of what I’ve spent my life doing; I’ve helped:
- piano students as a piano teacher
- parents as a babysitter/cleaner/organizer (I wrote about one of those situations here)
- my own children as a homeschool mom
- churches by playing the piano
- food pantries/cat shelter/other charities by volunteering my time
I’ve written before too about how my motivation for blogging stems from my desire to help people.
And I am going back to school to become a nurse because….I want to help people! A cheerful, competent nurse can make a big difference for patients, and I know this because it’s been true when I’ve been a patient.
Early morning walks on our dirt road. The sun was just coming up when I went out, the air was cool, there was little to no traffic on the main road a quarter mile away, and the horse usually came over to the fence to say good morning. I use the past tense because the sun is rising too late now for me to get out there before my kids get up, but in the summer, it was the perfect way to start the day.
I am a little bummed about the later morning sunrises too!
Have you seen the series “Call the Midwife”…it is currently on Netflix….all 9 seasons. I am on season 4 right now…ALL about wonderful and caring nurses. I am loving it.
Jane in Florida
I have, and I loved it!!
Creating. I rather obstinately prefer to make/sew/draw things without a pattern to go on, which isn’t always successful. But when I am successful, I feel so good and energized and alive.
Finishing a spin class. It’s fresh on my mind because today I got to spin with my favorite exercise friend for the first time in a year and a half. We didn’t do a class, just rode the bikes together. I look forward to when I can get back in a class, though. That feeling of exhaustion with accomplishment and sweat plus the fun of doing it with others to fun music with a fun instructor… I love it.
Whatever it is that makes us feel alive, I think it’s really important to get to know that! For so long, I felt like I was struggling through things. My life is better because I have figured some of this out! And I continue to learn!