give back

the process of getting trained by the Red Cross to be a member of the DAT ( for my county. This team responds primarily to single family house fires. As a member of this team, I am on call evenings and weekends for 1 week out of the month from 5 PM to 7:30 AM. This will keep me honest.
I have volunteered in the past with the adult literacy, church stuff, etc. But had this activity had fallen off in my life. In the recent months, I have found my focus to be far too inward. Too concerned with me and mine. All my little anguishes and disappointments. This makes you small and worrisome. You wring your hands in a dark room with nothing to give and no energy to turn on the light. As soon as you start focusing on others – you will find energy and hope. Your pains are no longer a burden to you alone, but rather lessons to be learned from, shared with others, forgotten in the activity, lessened by the interaction.
As an outcome of this training I have learned quite a bit as well as see an additional benefit in this association.
In interest of economy of space and readability, as well as a reason for you to return to my humble ramblings – I will expand upon this concept in individual entries.