On volunteering

We’re nearly right bang in the middle of winter now and boy is it getting chilly! One of the things I love about winter though is that the cold seems to propel me gently into a sort of quiet – nearly a hibernation. (Note: If only it were possible to hibernate when you’re nearing the end of your HDR candidature!) This is my quiet season and I do enjoy it.

This is what I appreciate about living here – the seasons. I’d love nothing more than an endless summer, but the winter brings recharge and some much-needed solitude. Don’t get me wrong – I take pleasure in going out, being amongst it all, but the quiet time is when I’m not only recharging but also savouring. And despite the cold, there is so much to delight in during winter, such as the annual whale migration down through the Fleurieu Peninsula, campfires, indulgent pasta dishes, Illuminate Adelaide, the surf down at Middleton, and so on.

Earlier this year (i.e. in summer), I challenged myself by only having cold showers. Now that it’s winter, it’s a bit harder, but I’ve found that the temporary discomfort helps strengthen my body and my mind. I still, of course, bundle up when going for bushwalks, but I try and be really present in sensing how cold my fingers are, or even my nose. It’s a really grounding practice and one that I do more of during winter.

Now, despite the delight of solitude, I don’t completely disappear during winter of course. There is still work to be done, bills to be paid, chores to complete, and a thesis to write, but we all still catch up with friends and family. Last weekend, I shared dinner with friends, and they told me all about their experiences with volunteering at a soup kitchen. They’ve done this for several weeks now in the lead-up to winter and found it wonderfully rewarding. As they detailed the new friends they made and the feeling they get when they’re engaged with their community this way, the joy on their faces was unmistakable.

What is it about volunteering?

A while ago, I was invited to attend the Lord Mayor’s Civic Reception at the Adelaide Town Hall to celebrate World Red Cross Day. I wasn’t too sure what to expect but I accepted and was looking forward to meeting some of the volunteers being honoured for their service.

It was truly inspiring to hear about the stories of these volunteers – one of them was recognized for 50 years of volunteering. Can you imagine that? This lady began volunteering when she was in school. She would accompany her mother and eventually grew up continuing the work. I approached her after the formalities of the afternoon and we talked about her experiences all these past 50 years. She told me that in addition to the joy and happiness that she felt, volunteering allowed her to feel genuinely connected to her community. She’s made lifelong friends and although her work means she bears witness to suffering and hardship at times, it has made her life richer and more meaningful.

Need some volunteering ideas to get you started during the winter break? You can click on this link and explore some of the 70 volunteer groups at the university.

“But practically all of us think about ourselves in terms of our contribution to life. And when we have become old, much of our feelings of happiness or sadness depend on our evaluation of the part we played in giving shape to our world and its history.”Henri Nouwen