It’s no secret that our community thrives due in part to the volunteer efforts of so many.
I imagine thousands of volunteer hours are clocked in Squamish any month of the year.
From the volunteers who make possible the Squamish Youth Triathlon and Test of Metal, to those feeding the hungry at Helping Hands and those hardworking folks at the Re-Use It Fair, it could be difficult to fathom how we are able to keep it up year in and year out.
After all, a lot of us have a what’s-in it-for-me attitude. And yet we do keep it up.
Less than two weeks after the 12th annual May Fair at Cedar Valley Waldorf School, where my children attend, I am still reflecting on the massive effort given by so many parents, faculty, and staff. Even my six- and eight-year-old like to get in on the action, volunteering to help run the fish pond for the wee ones. However, I’m particularly chuffed when I see alumni like Mallory Woods, Grant Willcox and Jason Hoerger spend their entire Saturday helping set up, take tickets and work on activities with younger children — just because they want to. No one asked these kids to help out; they just arrived early in the morning, rolled up their sleeves and made themselves useful.
This week I was filling out an application to volunteer to support the medical services at the Squamish Valley Music Festival and I was momentarily overcome. I actually got a bit emotional and panicky, thinking, “What if they don’t pick me?”
Which, considering it’s for a volunteer position, may seem a bit odd on the surface.
And no, it’s not because I want a free ticket to see Eminem. Really.
But the opportunity to be a part of something so much bigger than oneself is something you have to experience to appreciate. The energy that we create when we put our own needs aside for the benefit of others is often palpable, whether we are working together to build a family resource like the newly constructed SORCA bike skills park or manning a community booth at the Squamish Farmers’ Market.
Ultimately I believe that when we are able to give our gifts — whatever they are — with pure joy and no expectation of anything in return, is when we are truly at our happiest. It’s when our souls sing. If I teach my children anything, I hope they learn from me the delight giving can bring.
Kirsten Andrews offers Simplicity Parenting courses, workshops and private consultations in the Corridor and Lower Mainland. Visit Sea To Sky Simplicity Parenting on Facebook or www.SeaToSkySimplicityParenting.com.
