Happy Moment #12: Volunteering

This entry is coming a little late but I want to be sure to note the activity of "volunteering" as a "happy moment" for me. I have volunteered lots of times in my life (working at the Hope Clinic for Women for 7 years and volunteering for road races and triathlons). But since creating this #50for50 challenge for myself, I think I have been a little bit more aware of "why" I volunteer -- and how it makes me feel.

Last weekend was the Frozen Buns Run, an event that our tri club uses as a fundraising endeavor each year. I worked the registration desk for 5 hours on the Friday before the race and then got to the race early on Saturday morning and worked the packet-pickup table. After finishing those responsibilities, my friend Marian (our tri club president!) and I ran across the start line and did the 5K course ourselves. The race certainly lived up to its name -- it was darn cold! But I ran the race knowing that I did everything I could to make this race a success -- and that made me feel good!

I think a lot of us are so busy with our lives that volunteering -- though we know that it is awesome -- can be difficult to fit into our lives. But I am realizing that making people smile makes me feel good about myself and about what I have to offer to this planet. And though I don't always know exactly "why" I am on this planet, I do know that I want to make a different. I want to make a "dent" on this world and I hope that this "dent" is a good influence or affect.

Here I am working the packet pick up desk on race morning. I wore my penguin tights because the penguin is our mascot for this cold race!

And one of the best parts of volunteering is hanging out with awesome people who I don't usually get to spend to much time with. Terri and I -- as you can see above -- had a lot of fun at the Friday registration desk!