More than 350 Northwest Assistance Ministries’ volunteers attended the organization’s annual Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Among the guests were eight women who have volunteered for 25 years, from left, Charlotte Keehner, Arlene Morton, Betty Greenwood, Madeline Judkins, Gail Williams, Orca Willhelm, Jo Nell McMath and Gloria Swanson. Additional 25-year volunteers not in attendance include Jerry Adams, Bob Schmidt, Carol Banks, Yvonne Jones and Margaret Reistroffer. For information on volunteering at NAM, contact NAM Volunteer Coordinator Jamie Hartwell at 281-885-4609 or jhartwell@namonline.org.Your Life and Your Work, Do They Reflect Your Priorities?
A few weeks ago, NAM marked National Volunteer Recognition Week by holding a luncheon to honor our dedicated volunteers. Several hundred were in attendance to celebrate 25 years of community volunteering. A note of importance: There were 8 volunteers who have volunteered continuously at Northwest Assistance Ministries (NAM) since 1983! What dedication and commitment to volunteer for 25 years to help others!
I often think about all the things I say I am going to do but never seem to be able to find the time. Recently I came across an article by Kate Steinbacher, a Life Coach, who discusses how to get organized so you have more time for the things in your life that are important.
It is not always that we are unorganized or inefficient in the use of our time. Many times the true issue is that we have allowed the outside world to dictate our personal priorities. If that is happening to you, you probably have some of the following symptoms: A feeling that you are gerbil running in a wheel. A fear that if you stop running you will be run over and that to step off the wheel is not possible. You never have time for your family or the things that are fun. No matter how hard you work it will never all be done.
These symptoms can be a reflection of inefficient use of your time or lack of organization or it can also be your having given away your power to decide for yourself what will be most important in your life.
Whatever the cause, or combination, the starting point is getting control and clear on your priorities. So much of our lives may seem dictated and out of our control. You can take back control. The first step is to take a close look at what is absolutely necessary and non-negotiable. Survival items like food, shelter and clothing generally come first. After we have met those criteria we are truly at choice. This is where priority setting comes in. We each have the opportunity to decide for ourselves what is truly important. What is it for you? Is it success at work? A job you are passionate about? Time allocated for entertainment. A healthy lifestyle. Time enjoyed with the family and friends. For many people it is a fine balance of all of those items.
Organization and time management can insure we get the best use of our time and that little or none is wasted. If a person is well organized they generally have what looks like a lot more time because they accomplish so much in a day. Organization and time management are necessities for those of us who insist on a full life with many facets. Often times just getting organized can give us back precious hours we can then choose to spend on other priorities.
Once we are organized, and have taken back the lost hours, we are still faced with the reality of 24 hours in a day, no more. Then what? This is where priorities become important. We get to decide what is most important and use our time accordingly. This can often be a struggle, because we want to, feel like we should or feel like we have to “do it all”. The strange realization for many of us is that regardless of what we do or don’t, the world will probably go on and the “in” box will always be full. One less business proposal out may mean a potential loss of financial gain, but the lifelong connection created with your son or daughter because you were there when they hit that first home run is immeasurable.
Challenge: Review your priorities. Decide what the top 5 are in your life. The take your 168 hours of your week and determine how many hours you will spend towards each priority. Don’t forget sleep! Then see how your week goes. If the balance is too far to one side or the other, look at possibilities to tip the balance back. Make changes and try again until it feels right.
Kudos to the all the volunteers who have figured out how to prioritize what's important in their lives and who make time to volunteer at NAM. You have raised the bar for all the rest of us!
Carole Little
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