Life has a funny way of shifting. A year ago, I was stressing about the holiday season, making sure gifts were purchased and wrapped, and that all the holiday events were signed up for and on the calendar. On top of the stress of a full-time job, I felt a tiny bit of the holiday stress overshadowing the joy of the holiday season.
Fast forward to this year, and I have found myself with something I have not had in many, many years…time.
Time to get my holiday errands done. Time to volunteer at all of my girls’ school activities. Time to give back to the community. This new time I have has filled my days and my heart, as I have had the opportunity to give back in ways I never had time for before.
I started simple. I signed up to transport food donations from grocery stores, restaurants, and other donation sites to those in need at schools, community centers, and food pantries. From there, I signed up to cook weekly meals for families who are in need. They sign up through the website, and I get matched based on their proximity to me. Within a week, they have a hot meal delivered to their door. I plan to sign up at my local animal shelter and continue volunteering at my kid’s school.
The more I volunteer, the more I realize this is what fuels me.
Giving back to others and seeing their joy and appreciation is the greatest payment there is. After leaving my full-time job, I felt a mix of relief and uncertainty. I was suddenly holding all this time, but not quite sure how to use it in a way that felt meaningful.
Motherhood has a way of reshaping your priorities, nudging you toward what really matters, and for me, that’s been community. Starting my own small business, which depends solely on my community, has shown that people will show up! So I am taking my new flexible schedule and showing up for others in my community, too.
Volunteering has become the bridge between who I was and who I’m becoming. It gives my days structure, purpose, and a sense of connection that I didn’t even realize I was craving. Instead of deadlines and meetings, I now get moments; real, human moments where I can show up for someone else, and in doing so, I’ve found I’m also showing up for myself.
There’s something grounding about being part of something bigger than your own to-do list. Something healing about shifting the focus outward when motherhood can feel so inward: and something empowering about realizing that giving back doesn’t just help others, it rebuilds you, too.
I honestly didn’t expect volunteering to become such a bright spot in my week.
It’s funny how when I was working full-time, I dreamed about having more time. Now that I have it, I’m quickly filling it by signing up and showing up.
Giving back has reminded me that I’m still allowed to grow, reinvent myself, and continue to find joy in the small things.
