The Benefits Of Volunteering
Hi Steemit! Apologies to everyone that I've been inactive lately. For the last 10 days I was in fact volunteering at a youth summer camp! Although I missed Steemit and the crypto-community greatly these last 10 days, I did gain many valuable insights from my volunteering experience that I'd like to share with you all!
The Beginning Was Rough
The first moment I stepped onto the campsite I already knew it was going to be a long 10 days. It was in the middle of a moist forest, and right when I stepped out of the car, insects were swarming everywhere.
Was covered in these mosquito bites from the first day! Ouch!
For a content creator/crypto trader like myself, this was a nightmare. My whole life revolves around having reliable internet to upload content and keep up with the latest crypto news. Before the first day was over, I was already contemplating cutting my trip short and heading home. But then...
The kids arrived, and I realized that this was about more than just me
Kids arriving on the first day!
Being present, in the moment of now
We live in a society full of distractions, gadgets, and short attention-spans. And you’ve probably heard about the negative effects it’s having on our mental health.
Campfire stories!
Volunteering in the middle of the forest with no internet connection really forced me to be present, to give my full undivided attention to those kids who deserved it at that moment. And for once I was able to forget about YouTube, Facebook, and the internet. The internet wasn’t going anywhere. Steemit and YouTube weren’t going anywhere. In 10 days when I got back I could refocus on my daily routine. But for now, I owed it both to those kids and to myself to be fully present physically and mentally. That’s when I learned why…
Volunteering helps alleviate depression and many other mental disorders
![goodbadcycle.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/640x0/https://cdn.steemitimages.com/DQmNn4sQKqkpUEPem1jhZHenQbNuey5XqxRBTQY1WGdJqvJ/goodbadcycle.jpg)
It’s no secret that professional psychologists will often recommend their patients who suffer from depression to volunteer. There’s a good reason for this. On the top you will see a diagram of both the vicious and virtuous cycle. To summarize, once you get into one of these cycles, whether the vicious or virtuous one, it’s really hard to get out. After all, how do you break the loop when all your thoughts and actions constantly reinforce each other and cause this cycle to continue endlessly? Well the answer is you must take a leap of faith and first take the right actions as if you have already attained the good results you seek. It takes some confidence and willpower to do. But if done correctly it can break you free from the shackles of depression. Volunteering almost forces you to do this. You will be forced to take good, altruistic actions that help others. Once you have helped them and you see the good results you have contributed to, you enter the positive feedback loop that can finally bring you to the altruistic cycle!
After I learned these lessons, time went by so much faster and before I knew it, the camp was over
Painting activity on the last day. Time flies when you're having fun!
It was time to say goodbye
The last day had arrived. The kids were packing up and getting ready to go back home. We had some last day activities, playing board games, taking pictures, laughing and sharing memories with each other. Then it hit us. The euphoria was gone. Tears began to swell up as the parents picked up their kids one by one. “I can’t stop crying, this was such a fun 10 days” one of my favorite kids named Marcus said. “I know, it really went by too fast” I replied. I stayed until the last kid was picked up. I went back to the dorm room to pack my bags. It felt so weird when I went by and felt the utter silence. Just a few days ago I was annoyed at all the kids constantly making noise and screaming. Now I missed them. I packed up my own bags and began to head home myself as well. Now I got my wish and I’m back to my usual self, posting on Steemit and YouTube. But this was an experience I wouldn’t trade for anything.
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This post has received a 2.53 % upvote from @booster thanks to: @thecryptodunker.
Hey hi dear i read ur post ofcourse and agree with ur banifeet of volunteering.....i like ur post and upvoted may be u also help me for upvot me.
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ten more removed from the noise of the city and the usual work, they seem many; but after seeing the dotographies and reading your publication, it is appreciated that it was not time predicted, on the contrary some fun days, despite the mosquitoes.
hi @thecryptodunker .You had a great trip. Thank you for sharing this interesting.
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Wow! Great service thank you so much!
Breaking: https://steemit.com/news/@bible.com/6h36cq
Yes voluntary is great and I will be there in the other email I sent to you by Monday morning and I will be there at a time and see you tomorrow at kg of you too babe suni jana c but I don't know
Kompak ya😁