Serve with your Passion
Finding time to serve can be challenging for many of us. Juggling work, family, and everything else that life throws at us often leaves little time to give back. I firmly believe that our lives have seasons, and in some seasons we have less time than others. I am currently in one of those seasons and it has forced me to get creative in finding opportunities to give back. One of my favorite hacks has been finding opportunities to leverage my passions to serve.
Running used to be a painful requirement for my other sport interests or just a necessity to keep in shape, but over the years it has transformed into one of my passions. A passion that gets me out in nature, allows me to see the sights and sounds of a new city, and is a peaceful time of tranquility to think and pray. It is also a passion that presents opportunities to participate in events that raise money for charitable organizations. With limited time, I often look for these opportunities where I can serve two of my passions, running and giving, at once.
This past weekend, I had the opportunity to participate in a trail race that was put on to raise money for a local non-profit nature preserve, Anne Springs Close Greenway. This is an organization that I have fallen in love with since moving to the Charlotte area. It provides 2,100 acres of nature and countless activities for the surrounding community to get outside and explore. I was able to help this cause and go for a beautiful trail run all at the same time. My family came out to cheer me on and my daughters are even interested in participating in the 5k next year.
I often hear people exclaim that their passions do not align with this sort of activity. Understandably, some passions might not be a great fit, but be creative. Their are many walks, runs, golf outings for charitable causes. Passions around the arts could present an opportunity to put on a concert where proceeds go to charity, creating quilts for families in needs, or creating art to raise money for your favorite cause.
Living Altruistically takes time, but be creative and you can serve others while serving your own passions at the same time. It's a Win-Win, or in the case of my trail race it was a Win-Win-Win as I won the old guys race.
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