Do Something

There are many things we're trying to accomplish with this journey we've undertaken and one of them is to find new ways of interacting with the world than the pure commodification of goods and services, and consequently of people and relationships. The method we've chosen to do this is to give freely. This brings up the question of volunteering, which I think has been a bit bastardized by the industry that has sprouted up around what was essentially a very good idea. Having worked many years in volunteer organizations, I've come to the conclusion that most are really just businesses in disguise. And the magic of giving has been strip mined from this essential dynamic.

Helping people is a natural part of our human drive - it makes us feel good, useful even. With time and our basic needs taken care of, we all tend to branch out and lend a hand to those around us - starting with those closest, but when their needs are also sated, our good works naturally rupple outward. These days, we're often guilted into "volunteer" work - or children are told to do this for a reason - to get into college, to show future employers that they are well-rounded, or to keep a job. The CEO's of some volunteer organizations are making upward of hundreds of thousands of dollars and throw lavish parties for potential donors, justifying the exchanges of money as being necessary to get these important works done. I don't buy it.

So we've decided to volunteer for the pure joy of it. A few weeks ago I helped pull weeds at Harvest for Humanity in Gilbert, AZ and will go back to do so again. The director of this organization is out in the fields every day and invites anyone who wants to drop in - no filling out papers or writing off on your taxes - just giving food to those who need it. The project we're creating will also be a gift to the communities we call our temporary homes, and the serendipity it creates is also created in the pure giving of our time and energies in other ways. Since beginning this trip - which has not yet left the metropolitan area in which we resided - we've met a mechanic who has offered his services for meals, a solar energy designer who has offered to help outfit the RV with solar panels and have been offered extra food people in this neighborhood have extra, showers, interenet access, help with a website, singing lessons, and more. I believe this serendipity happens because of the giving - the kind of giving that happens when you are not looking at what comes back to you.

So if you need help, let us know - we're looking for things to do for people when we're not building trees. Two strong people can add a lot of value to your projects and I want to use this post to offer our services to anyone reading this - I can't guarantee that I can spend the gas money to get to where you are - but if we're in the area and you need some helping hands, I want all readers here to know that you can call on us and if we can make it, we'll be there - no payment necessary. Sure it's idealistic, but you know, if everyone did it - even just some of the time - it also just might work.