yes! i agree that helping others can help a lot! a recent example… i attended my city’s annual summer community festival. it’s a 3-day concert in the park, with 6 stages, and all kinds of artists, activists, retail vendors, artisans, and attendees of all kinds. it’s a blast! the music was spectacular.

anyway, i’ve been to this festival as often as i can over the past 15 years, or so. i’ve usually had to work, so i can only attend 1 or 2 days. i’ve also had other commitments, so i was unable to just relax and enjoy it. this time, my situation was different. i have been unemployed for 3 months. i have no other commitments, other than searching for work. this time, i wanted to take in this festival.

i volunteered to help out, for the first time. there was a need for helping the stage crew, and i have experience in that area, so i volunteered to help. it wasn’t picking up trash or pouring beers. it was doing something i enjoy doing. the other factor was that many of the musicians, performers, assistants to the bands, really appreciated our help. we were professional and quick, efficient, at getting one act off the stage and the other on, within about 10 minutes. they took about 5-10 minutes to set up, and they started playing.

to shake someone’s hand who genuinely appreciated the volunteer help with all that felt very good inside. it made me feel worthy and purposeful. it made me feel like i did something that meant something to someone.

plus, there are so many people who attend comfest and never do much of anything to help out. they don’t even pick up after themselves or look out for one another. i know i’ve been guilty of that attitude at least at some point in the past, and this time i was going to be different. i didn’t bring anything into the park that i didn’t take out, and what i purchased there i took out of there.

thinking of something bigger than yourself…

acting as if there is something far more important than just yourself…

that is really what comfest was originally supposed to be about. that is why i did what i did, and it made me feel good inside, because i helped other people and behaved, at least i think i did, with the community in mind.