A couple folk have asked me why I bother doing Community Service if, I quote, “you don’t have to?” My company offers you points for your Community service but I don’t qualify until next year, so really, why should I bother until then?
I’ll tell you why.
A year ago I came out of a bad marriage. I was shattered and insecure. Depressed and terrified. I had no job, having been a housewife for the last ten years, no experience or impressive qualifications. I was about to lose the roof over my head and I was sharing food with my pets to make ends meet. One of my top ten moments in life this really wasn’t.
But then a wonderful friend, a knight in shining armour (Or at least a nicely polished car), came to help me out. This was a guy whom I’d chatted to on a social network and only met once or twice. Rob opened his heart and his home and took me in when other people told him what he was doing was naïve, foolish and potentially the stupidest thing he’d ever done. And that was just the good things they said!
I got a little room to myself and helped out financially where I couldn’t pay it back a cent. I had nothing but my company to offer. No money! Can you imagine? Who’d take in someone like that? They probably deserve it!
I was seen as some dark temptress who had lured this innocent person into taking me on. Some spider who would suck his very life juices dry. When you’re already dealing with a heap load of hurt, insecurity and confusion this doesn’t really make you feel top of the pops.
But then, thanks again to another friend’s charity and willingness to let me try my hand at something new, I managed to get a job! An actual real job! And it became permanent! I could finally pay my way! Do you have any idea how much of a head rush that was? Hell still is! I go to work each day thrilled!! I love it!!!
And I can’t ever forget what it was like to have that hand offered to me when I was so low and pathetic.
So why do community work if you ‘Don’t have to?’
Because you never, ever know the influence you might have on a person’s life by giving what you can to those who desperately need it! I’ve been there, I know the terror and hopelessness they feel, when people look down on them and they start wondering why they should bother to draw breath anymore? I was ‘them’ just a few months ago!
It’s a little bit of time and effort. It’s giving back to not only help repay the enormous karmic debt I have but to maybe add enough to other peoples’ lives, people who’ve had it far worse then me! (I never kid myself into thinking I’ve had it the hardest, oh hell no!!)
A little hope, a little compassion, you’d be surprised how far these things go. When people don’t automatically judge you because of your “low” station in life. When they just genuinely want to help you! I needed it back then and now I can do the same for others! How frikkin awesome is that?!?!
In my books there will never ever be a time when I ‘Don’t have to’ help someone else if I can! And the fact that I can… Cor Blimey… just shows how wonderfully life can turn out when someone takes a few moments to care!
So screw points and weak excuses and lily white hands! I’m here and I’m ready to get my hands dirty and my nose sunburnt for my fellow human being!
Let’s do this thing!!
