I want to make a difference?

Question

I don't want my life to be just one that i'm floating in and when i die i'm done. i wanna do something that really makes a differnece. i was thinking of joining like a peace corps or something like that. any tips on what i could do? or what you did when you felt like this?

Answer 1

If you are going to be any good to yourself and others, you have to be in a field you love, and it doesn't matter what the field is. Write a list of things you love in life and things that give you joy. This is where you want to be. Others will see in you good things and that you are happy, and this will help them in many ways. So if you end up making a human decision on this without letting your heart do the whole thing, you will not be as happy as you could be or should be.

Answer 2

Which part of "the way things are now" bothers you the most? Work on making that part better. If you are most concerned about the environment, then make sure you are living as lightly on the land as you can. Be an example to others and gently suggest easy changes to others to help them begin to make a difference also.
How about homelessness? Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, either helping with the construction or with fund-raising.
Does it bother you the way old people are treated? Visit nursing homes with guitars and friends and help brighten the residents' day with some music. Take holiday cards and postage stamps and help someone send out messages to family they are not able to be with.
Write to a serviceperson overseas. They are doing a very difficult job and a letter from "home" about normal life helps them through the rough times until they can come back. If you start a correspondence with them, maybe you can find out something they could really enjoy that you can send, and organise other people to send more. An example is knitted helmet liners. If you want peace, then work for justice and a world that will let the soldiers come home.
I'm proud of you for wanting to do something important. I wish you well in your endeavor!

Answer 3

I've felt like that at times. I work in the corporate world, at a desk in a boring office all day, so it's easy for me to not really feel like I'm helping people or making a difference. Once I quit my job and went to work as an assistant in a kindergarten, just because I was so burned out on silly office politics and backstabbing co-workers and I wanted to just help someone learn to read, or just tie some kid's shoes- anything to help people. It was lovely and it gave me just the renewed spirit I had been looking for. (Unfortunately, jobs in education do not pay well as everyone knows, and I had to go back to Corporate America after 3 months in the kindergarten just to be able to make the rent, but it was such a rewarding, renewing experience.) I find that any job that involves little kids can really make you feel like you matter and that you're doing something for someone. Also, I try to donate to United Way whenever I can, especially during the holidays. I don't have much to give, but I feel so much better giving money to them instead of going and spending it on stuff I don't need. Everything I've mentioned is much smaller than the Peace Corps, but it's a place to start. Why don't you go volunteer at a nursing home? Elderly people love to be read to, or just talked to, and their lives and stories can be so fascinating. Or you could go see if you can be a volunteer bell ringer for Salvation Army during the holidays. Schools are always looking for volunteers to read aloud to kids or just to do copies and things for teachers. Or you can organize your own fundraiser, food drive, or event for the charity of your choice. Take whatever skills you feel are your strongest, and put them to use for charitable causes. You are a wonderful person for even thinking about this.

Answer 4

The best way to make a real difference is to become involved for good in the lives of others. The Peace Corps is one way, but there are countless others as well. For example, teach handicapped children, work part time in homeless shelters or soup kitchens, visit nursing homes and help the elderly, join a prison ministry outreach program, etc. That is a real short list, but it might give you some food for thought. Good luck!

Answer 5

There are a lot of good answers here... a lot of stuff I agree with, so here is my two cents: Don't ever let anyone tell you that you are only one person, and can't change the world. There are so many causes that need passionate people to believe that their contribution is worthwhile. Donating money is great, but giving yourself is better. Personally, I was reading a lot about global warming and I started getting really outraged. But instead of just sitting around feeling helpless, I decided to go back to school to study environmentalism, so that I can help change our future. Devoting your life to a cause you care about is so fulfilling. If you are still stuck on ideas, I have a great book called Everyday Activist by Michael Norton that is full of great stuff, you should check it out.

Answer 6

Starts doing volunteer work in different organizations and analyze how you feel. Maybe your true call is working reading to old people that so many time feel so alone. Maybe it is teaching family values to kids through art or literature. Writing is a way to get to many people at once and you can spread positive, spiritual, good values. The one activity that you would do even without payment, that is you real purpose in this life.

Answer 7

Cool. Why not volunteer locally first and work your way up to the Peace Corps? Should be many opportunities over the holidays, too.
http://www.volunteermatch.org/

Answer 8

To find your focus in life, to evaluate your favorite skills
and best talents, I recommend "What Color is Your
Parachute" by Dr. Richard Bolles. Includes fun exercises
and an extensive index of helpful references for career shopping.

Some more nonprofits that make a difference:

* Civic Worldwide -- provides aid to civilian victims of war,
by working with the military, government and Congress, not against them. Founder Marla Rusicka, 29, died in Iraq and her successor needs help to keep the outreach going and growing
* Architecture for Humanity - similar to Habitat for Humanity, but they hold contests to design whole communities in poor countries for a fraction of the normal budget, since it is charity
* Doctors without Borders
* Grameen Foundation/Grameen Bank - ends poverty by investing microcredit financing into poor areas to jumpstart local businesses, both in the U.S. (Dallas TX) and abroad (founder in Bangladesh just won Nobel Prize)
* Teach for America
* Any shelter or program that helps victims of domestic violence or homeless/mentally ill. These programs are always overrun understaffed. Mentors are needed for cases where people are recovering and can start to live independently with right support.
* Big Brothers and Big Sisters -- any mentoring program for troubled youth at risk
* Ronald McDonald House or any program for children or families in the local hospital
* Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP)
* Volunteering at your local library, public school, animal shelters

If you are looking for references that align with your interests, call United Way and ask for referrals. George Bush Sr. started Points of Light Foundation to match volunteers with programs, so there could be a central volunteer center/office near you.
In Houston it is called the Volunteer Center, and they advertise volunteer opportunities every week in the newspapers.

If there is not a system like this set up in your city, maybe you could volunteer to set up a central network for all the charities with volunteer openings, that matches them with student interns at various local schools. At Rice University, some students started the RSVP (Rice Student Volunteer Program) to match students up with nonprofit outreach activities.

Answer 9

Become a teacher.

Also, always remember that the little things you do every day really make a difference to the people in your world. Whether you make a difference in the larger world aside, you will make a difference in your small one.

At the end of the day, its my small world that really matters to me.

Answer 10

Peace Corp is BS
If you really want to do something you need more political clout, not less...