A Note on Selflessness

Written about my first volunteer experience at a shelter.

In our world people ramble around mindlessly, looking for the new best thing. Looking for an opportunity to advance their career. Looking for an escape from their life. And all this time others are so far behind in this chase of wealth and opportunity and forgotten in the dust of other’s success. I have been that person, more often than I would like to admit.

 

 Tonight, though, shocked me back into reality- that more exists than my pretty well off middle-class life. Tonight, I had decided to volunteer at the local Interfaith Winter Shelter, though, mainly out of guilt for not having done so in the past. So while my friends went out to have a good time, I caught a ride to the shelter to begin what would become a very meaningful experience.

 

On the way there I began to immediately regret signing up and wished I had just went with my friends instead, but I had made a commitment and I tend to stick to my promises. The night was really awkward. I won’t lie about that. I felt out of place and like I was intruding into someone else’s life. I began to feel bad about the life I had been born into, and that I deserved none of what I had been given. Conversation was also awkward, because I did not know what to say. So I did the easiest thing I could- I settled down for a couple rounds of the Indiana favorite of Euchre with a few of the guests.

 

It was in the middle of embarrassing myself with my poor Euchre skills that I began to enter into a real conversation with the people around me, and it was then that I stopped seeing them as the people I pass quickly by on the street and as someone’s daughter, son, mother, father, sister, brother, friend, and neighbor. For the first time, they became real people with real stories.

 

Though I still felt awkward, I left feeling happy, because they were happy that I was there and I felt a sense of selflessness that I had never experienced. I learned that to sacrifice your time to help people when they are vulnerable, or in unfortunate circumstances, is one of the best things you could possibly do, because we are all each other’s neighbors in the end, and we all need to rely on each other. I do not feel bad for the blessings in my life anymore, but I do see them as a calling and opportunity to reach out and share out time and our love with others.

Reviews

[therisa]

Angel, I have spent time, in a women homeless shelter, before I got my current apartment, more than 7 years ago. Am grateful, you volunteered, to spend time, in your local shelter. My experience there, opened my eyes to the different way, people look and react to you, like you're a parasite, barely tolerated by them. Personally, I don't want to go back, to another shelter, ever.

Am hoping, this marks the start of a new part of you, which you're able to share, with those, less fortunate than you. Thank you, Angel, for sharing your feelings and experience, on this very special night for you.

[Angel Alli]

Thank you for sharing! I really want to change the way people view those who are homeless, because we are all human and all need compassion.

[therisa]

Sadly, most people won't change, until they're forced to do so. Even then, many don't.

[Spotted Hyena]

Great essay! Well written and meaningful! I feel the same way when I volunteer!