How can I be a Humanitarian?

humanitarian day

humanitarian day

Humanitarian Day 2018

Today we're celebrating the life of Martin Luther King, Jr., a humanitarian, who was a great leader, big thinker and overall compassionate human being.A humanitarian is someone who positively promotes the well-being of other human beings. That’s it!! So simple but many of us think of being a humanitarian as someone who does huge memorable activities like Dr. King or goes to foreign countries to help others.But that’s only a small sliver of what being a humanitarian means. Humanitarians recycle. They pick up trash. They build houses. The list goes on and on.In addition, the important thing to remember is we usually find joy in doing things we like to do so it’s important to do some thinking about what makes you happy before you go and volunteer. Things to think about and to ask yourself:

  1. Do I want to work directly with people and what age?

  2. Do I want to work inside or outside?

  3. What do I like to do that makes me feel good about myself?

Matching your likes and skills to specific causes has never been easier. Develop your profile at volunteermatch.org to get started.So, now that you’ve put some though into it. How can you get involved?

Start on a local level!!

You don’t have to go to another country to be a positive impact in the world. Discover what your passions are and start there. Some possible ideas could be animal shelters, community centers or city park and recreation departments. There's even the political arena!! 

What are your skills and how can you transfer them to volunteer for a cause?

Habitat for Humanity is a great example of this concept. People who have specific skills and expertise or know just enough to roll paint on a wall have skills that are greatly needed and can be used for humanitarian purposes. Another possibility is to find a neighborhood garden or a community center that is cooking a holiday dinner for the homeless. Again, the possibilities are endless! 

Get those around you involved!

Whether you're with family and friends or your work colleagues, volunteering in a group is super fun. One of the easiest places to volunteer is Harvester’s. There are many things that a large group can come in an do with little planning or advance notice. Great memories are created when we invest in a great cause. Once you get organized, plan it out and make the call the next step is to just do it!! Volunteering makes you feel good and that helps with stress and anxiety relief. So what are you waiting for? Start planning your humanitarian adventure today!

I’m always available to chat if you’d like to connect. Reach out now for your 30-minute complimentary consultation.

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