Volunteering

Since I left the UK, just to help me get settled over here in BC. I volunteered to help out once a week at the Canadian Red Cross. It’s quite common over here to do voluntary work, and in many circles it’s rather expected of you at some stage. Angie helps children who are having trouble learning to read, write and do sums, and I help fix aids for the disabled and similar. If asked why I do it I can say this; it lightens my soul. Better than any religion, better than any drug (Legal or not), volunteering with an open heart gives you a sense of, well I suppose you’d call it fulfilment, satisfaction. That and I work with a happy crew. A good mob, you might say.

Last week we were out on a ‘run’ delivering and fitting stuff, but I arrived early and found myself regaling the office with a few ‘war stories’ from when I worked in a UK hospital. Strange now that the memories of that time no longer bother me as they once did. The heartbreak and frustration of losing a patient, getting told off repeatedly for honestly answering patients questions, dealing with (Often violent) drunks in casualty, calming them with a soft word or two (Much to the surprise of the coppers who brought them in). Amusing anecdotes from operating theatre. Getting told repeatedly that I was ‘gay’ (Strangely enough I’m not, never was – didn’t know I had to be).

As I was telling my tales, I had a minor internal revelation. I began to realise that the memory of all the bad things that happened no longer hurt after all these years. The voluntary work I’ve been doing has given me a sound perspective to look back on why the hospital job was a bad career move, but a useful source of knowledge (and amusing anecdotes).

Voluntary work teaches you things about yourself; what you feel comfortable with, what you like and dislike. It’s a great confidence builder. Gives you a bit more character. What a pity that ‘elf & safety’ culture in the UK is killing some sectors. Although in the UK ‘government statistics’ will disagree with this view, and we all know how reliable those are.

Over here in Canada, at least where I live, voluntary work is part of the culture. You help out because you feel more confident that in your time of need someone will come to your assistance. It’s very comforting. I like it. Can I stay please?