**Disclosure: I did receive a complimentary book in order to bring this review you to. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.
One of the more recent volumes of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Volunteering & Giving Back is equally motivational and inspirational. Additionally, it stands as a testament to the good works being done each and every day that often go unseen. If you are looking for a new passion or a new way to help, this volume is certainly full of plenty of ideas! With the holidays swiftly approaching, many of us began looking for ways to help the world and make life better for others. However, volunteers are needed all year and this volume will show you not only how inspiring volunteering can be but how much it really means those you are helping.
A cluster of anecdotes show how a passion for volunteering can often be launched unintentionally and actually after a bout of avoidance. In some instances, the authors were reluctant and downright afraid of volunteering but soon learned not only how much their assistance was needed but how enriching their new relationships could be both to themselves and the recipient.
It is important to get youth involved in charity to help them learn that so many in the world would be grateful with just a fraction of what we have. Plus, we can all make a difference no matter how big or small our charitable action. Even a smile can change someone's life. Quite a few of the anecdotes illustrate how volunteer experiences in youth translated into a lifetime passion for helping others. We may be just a drop, but that drop makes a ripple and can help many.
Of course, many of the stories make you smile. One of my favorites is about a teen that begrudgingly goes to a nursing home to drop off a cake baked by his mom. Initially, he is afraid of the elderly. However, he connects with one elderly gentleman playing chess. He learns about this man's life thereby realizing the residents are real people, not just old people. This encourages him to spend more time at the nursing home recognizing the good giving a little of your time and love can do!
This particular volume makes a great gift for those amazing volunteers in your life! Certainly, this volume is motivational for us all--but I think that those volunteers that impress us each and every day will have a special connection with this book. With the holidays nearly here, a great gift!
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