From Social Work to Self-Work: Lessons Volunteering Taught Me About Life
I still remember my first day at the field. I had packed my bag with notebooks, water, and a lot of expectations about “helping people.” I thought I was going there to give, to teach, to fix but little did I know, I was about to receive lessons that no classroom or book could ever teach me. Walking into the small, humble homes, I saw lives that were far from easy. Children played barefoot in dusty lanes, yet their laughter rang louder than the bells of any big school I had seen. Elderly people smiled, even when they had little to eat or wear. Families celebrated small victories a pot of vegetables grown in their backyard, a child learning a few new words, a tiny accomplishment in a day that was otherwise tough. And that’s when it hit me: these people had so little, yet they were so happy. It made me pause and look at my own life my gadgets, my comfort, my routines and wonder, why do I often feel unhappy when I have so much? I began to notice the little things that make life beautiful. ...
