You may have noticed that I changed the name and look of this blog. No worries, I'll still post about how awesome my job is (because it is and I have fantastic coworkers - I love that they are as nerdy or more nerdy than I am. I had a great Game of Thrones geek-out during lunch today), but I'm also going to be focusing on the other passion in my life besides writing - volunteering and helping others.
I've known for most of my life that I love to write and I love to help others. I chose to make writing my career, and I have enjoyed pretty much every moment of it. I love getting to do what I love every day. I've also known for a long time that I want to help others - which is how I ended up with a degree in Professional Writing and a degree in Psychology.
Team Angel in the 2013 Anderson Walk to End Alzheimer's
When you graduate from college and start working full-time, suddenly, you have a lot of free time that you didn't have before (for a while, I felt like I was forgetting something I needed to do). Once I got settled in to my big kid lifestyle, I realized I was bored. I didn't mind having time to read for fun again, or binge-watching on Netflix, but even binge-watching gets old after a while. I wanted to be involved in something - I've been a part of some kind of organization for most of my life, from church choir to Anderson Area Youth Chorale to band to Professional Writing Club, and it was weird that I now didn't have that kind of organization or group to be with.
Volunteering at Forget Me Not Night at the Pacer's Game
I decided to continue following my passion of helping others. I got involved with the Alzheimer's Association of Greater Indiana, as a member of the Great Minds young professionals group, as a committee member for Blondes vs. Brunettes (an awesome flag football game that you should all go to on June 28 at Eli Lilly Colonel Field - oh, and go Bru Crew!), and as a committee member and volunteer for the Indianapolis Walk to End Alzheimer's and Team Captain of Team Angel in the Anderson Walk to End Alzheimer's. I've written about my Granny and Grandpa and their journeys with Alzheimer's before. It's a devastating, horrible, heartbreaking disease, and I love being involved with the Alzheimer's Association to help those that are affected by it and by being part of the movement to help end it.
Balloon Duty at the 2013 Indianapolis Walk to End Alzheimer's
I have also joined the Eta Pi chapter of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a service organization. One of my good friends from high school is involved with ESA, and through her I pledged for the Eta Pi chapter last month. I haven't been a part of ESA for very long, but I already love it and the other members so much. ESA volunteers with Riley Hospital for Children, St. Jude, Easter Seals, and Eta Pi members work with causes that our members are passionate about as well.
2014 Race for the Cure with ESA
What I've learned in my first year of big kid post-grad life is to live passionately and love what you do. I'm blessed that I have a job and other organizations that I'm involved in where I can love what I do, whether I'm in the office or volunteering with the Alzheimer's Association or ESA. When action meets compassion, lives change, and I am so looking forward to being part of that change.
No comments:
Post a Comment