I had the pleasure of volunteering at Rock n' Roll Camp for Girls San Diego all last week. It came at the perfect time. I was going through something challenging the days leading up to it. It was a I'm-so-emotional-I'm-dry-heaving-and-locking-myself-in-the-bathroom kind of challenge. I had a moment of, "Can you emotionally handle this camp right now?"
Girls to the rescue.
The camp got me completely out of my own misery. A misery I didn't realize I had been carrying for quite some time. I had the realization awhile back that I was not happy, could not feel joy, and was not fulfilled. I had the fear that this wasn't going to go away. On day 2 of camp I watched a sunset through tear for the first time in a very long time.
This whole blog could be about this empowerment camp disguised as a music camp. Instead I will broaden the scope to it being about volunteering. About service. There is something about taking money out of the equation. It is saying, "I'm here because I want to be here and I am invested in your mission."
People who are of service see the bigger picture. I'm starting to see how service serves me. Generally we serve in communities and populations that need assistance. It really opens my eyes up to how well off I am. How I should use my privilege as a white, middle class, well-supported human for good.
I hope you apprecaited this public service announcement.