WHAT INSPIRES YOU?
By Dinah Frishling, CVV Volunteer & Member, October 2021 CVV Newsletter
Have you ever wondered why people volunteer? What is it that inspires them? What are they getting out of all that hard work?
When a very small group of us started to think about creating Conejo Valley Village, some said we must be out of our minds. And truthfully, often it felt like we were climbing a ladder whose upper rungs were invisible. Whatever were we thinking?! This is the story of what personally drove me to continue and what inspired the passion it took to cross the finish line?
When I was at a point in my life where I could say Career? Check. Financial stability? Check. I had the time, energy, and the will to do “something”. Volunteering came to mind for the “normal reasons”, primarily a desire to give back to my community. I made a trip to the Goebel Adult Center and found a long, long list of over 400 non-profits in our area who needed volunteers. I bagged groceries at a food pantry and sometimes distributed it to families; studied and wrote on the Senor Housing crisis in our area; worked on a Thousand Oaks City project to build a communications information network for seniors; and supported our city’s Senior Master Plan Committee. All worthwhile and meaningful endeavors I felt.
Simultaneously, I had spent the previous 2-3 years giving my mother the support she needed to age comfortably in her home by the beach in Malibu. That experience gave me some insight into what it means to get older, and the changes in one’s physical and mental worlds. I could not avoid thinking about my own future in 10 or 20 years.
And then, an epiphany! There is something missing in the web of existing institutions that supports seniors. The old ways are changing, the family support system is often inadequate or non-existent, and only a small percentage can afford or wish to go to the congregate facilities available. The Aging at Home movement had taken off and the Village Movement was one of the few solutions to fill this gap. The future of “My People”, the Baby Boomers, was about to take off in a new way. The fact that I could help make this happen through volunteering, lit the fires of passion.
There was the promise of a new virtual community and the joy of being part of it as both a member and a volunteer. I loved the concept. Nothing gets done by one person alone, which means we must band together to make things happen. Volunteerism is indeed the fuel to the fires of change. That I could have a voice and a role in the future of the Aging in Place Movement by being part of the creation of Conejo Valley Village was my Eureka.
The attraction was multi-faceted. Working and socializing with people you like and who are like- minded, enthusiastic, and laser focused on a shared objective is the best. Being a part of a team with a common goal forms bonds with strangers that can be life changing. Volunteering inherently means helping people, and that means you’ll be creating meaningful relationships with others and increasing your social interactions. Volunteers are also people who share things like a willingness to step outside their comfort zone, an openness to spending time on a community effort, a proclivity for engaging in team-oriented activities, and a desire to contribute to the well-being of others. They are the kind of people you want to know and share your time with.
For me, building a Village held the possibility of a long-term purpose and with its success, a tremendous sense of accomplishment. During my career in Computer Technology, I studied for an MBA, but never had the opportunity to build or manage all aspects of a company. I was both hopeful and surprised that starting a non-profit (in this case a 501c3) is very similar to starting any business. Being a volunteer can mean putting your skills to the test and building your abilities. Volunteers get the opportunity to gain so many different experiences, from designing a brochure, to organizing an event, taking a member to a doctor’s appointment, or a group walk in the park, or going to the movies or out to lunch with new friends; maybe serving on a committee or the Board of Directors. Your current skills have great value! There are opportunities to both mentor and be mentored through interactions in the Village.
Spending mea
ningful time with others can reduce stress and the health effects it has on our bodies. You may sleep better, get sick less often, and even prevent heart disease! In fact, some studies of older adults have even found lower mortality rates in volunteers vs non-volunteers. This makes sense because as we give our attention to others, we take our attention off our own problems and concerns. It can also put our stresses into perspective and as a result we feel more gratitude in our day-to-day lives. Every volunteer opportunity has its own set of tasks, and some of those might require you to learn new skill sets and challenge yourself. This means you’ll be keeping your brain busy and limber! Volunteering has been shown to increase your ability for problem solving, increase your long-term and short-term memory, and reduce your risk of developing age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s.
Volunteer work can also be an outlet for the frustrations we feel about certain issues and will leave you with a sense of agency and empowerment. Want to improve the process of aging? Do something about it! How you spend your time shows what you really value and prioritize.
The most compelling incentive to Volunteer is the simplest. It will make you happy, and it will make the people you give to and work with happy. So, time to get started! Conejo Valley Village awaits you! 805-372-1826 or www.conejovalleyvillage.org
