Vibrant Nation is full of members who’ve merged their desire to “give back” with their career and/or their everyday life. The following are just a few examples.
 |
1. “It’s so satisfying to see animals who feel safe and loved, but it’s also wonderful to see how selfless people can be.” From Silva Battista in Every time you help an animal, you help a person “Animal rescue has always been a part of my life, but not always in a formal way. Then, about 25 years ago, my husband and I and a group of friends came together in the deserts of Utah. We planned to create a kind of retreat/animal sanctuary. Each of us brought a lot of animals with us that we’d picked up along the way. The total came to several hundred animals altogether. Later, we discovered that the local animal shelter was a total disaster, so we volunteered to take over animal control. We ended up founding Best Friends Animal Sanctuary (now Best Friends Animal Society).” |
 |
2. “Ease away from materialism and stop holding onto stuff!” From Dana Dakin in Helping women help themselves “To get seed capital large enough to get the program going, I sold my 3-year-old Volvo sedan for for $18,000. It took several trips to the village of Pokuase in Ghana to establish my microlending program, but by November of 2003 WomensTrust made its first loans totalling $2,022 to 73 women.” |
 |
3. “We’re rich as soon as we realize we are” From Jana Stanfield in What would you do if you were brave? “Volunteering at an orphanage for girls was the best part of our Bali trip. The girls put on a talent show for us and we did a talent show for them. We saw how little it takes to bring joy to people, and how little it takes for these girls to bring joy to us.I didn’t change Bali. Bali changed me. And that change in me is ongoing, like a ripple effect.” |
 |
4. “I use films and community outreach to mobilize as many people as possible as quickly as possible.” From Carolyn Scott in Restoring the earth is an adventure “I think people often feel powerless in the face of climate change, deforestation, air and water pollution, and that’s why denial kicks in. My response to that is to try to make the restoration of our earth an adventure: not just a duty but something that brings us joy and fulfillment.” |
 |
5. “What I love most, though, is seeing how what we’re doing has made a difference in someone’s life.” From Karon Wright in Relieving global poverty, one micro-loan at a time “Because of the work we do, these women will be sending their kids to school and breaking the cycle of poverty. The success stories are my reward. They’re what really touch my heart.” |
 |
6. “Feel fulfilled — You continually get more out of a non-profit than you put in.” From Marilyn at TFK in 8 reasons to start a non-profit in later life “In my twenties and thirties, I was exclusively a mother and housewife. Actually I felt that role prepared me to eventually become a director of a nonprofit. Knowing how to run a household and raise children required planning and follow-through. I maintain that if one can be a housewife and mother, you can also run a company. Of course you have lots more to learn, but that is the fun part.” |
 |
7. “A better world for our children” From Connie K. Duckworth in Connecting women to make the world a better place “When I first witnessed the plight of the women weavers in Afghanistan, my own children were 7, 9, and 11. I met lots of Afghan mothers with children the same age as mine. These mothers couldn’t even feed their children. It was tremendously moving. I literally came back and said, ‘Okay, what am I going to do?’” |
| FREE SPECIAL REPORT: Women over 50 share their expertise in our FREE special report Women 50+ Know This: Favorite Recommendations from Vibrant Women about Managing Adult Children, Sex After 50, Divorce, Giving Back, Spirituality, Great Books, and the Perfect Lotion for Dry Skin. |
0 like
Permalink: http://www.vibrantnation.com/women-50-know-this/women-50-know-how-to-make-their-passion-for-giving-back-a-career/
thank you so much Lisa, that helps a lot. I know he tried to blame me for so much stuff, but like I told all of his family and mine none of that added up to a divorce. I do realize it's his needs, it just hurts so bad to think how many years he's
How funny....i only very recently (within last week) read the coconut oil articles on the web. (100 uses, 80 uses etc.) so i bouht some and ordered some from amazon. (Im a stockpiler.)
Have started trying some of the uses. I tried using it a
I know the children of the world are hurting however can we help our children too? There are many many children how go to bed hungry and many more that are abused regularly. Become a Casa voluteer and help these children have a voice.
what is the CASA program. I live in Lenexa Kansas is there anything there to participate in? Thanks
I founded Appalachia Mission of Hope, Inc. to help the families in the Appalachian mountains. (http://www.amohonline.org) These precious parents struggle to provide the basic household items, we take for granted, for their famillies. I am blessed to assist in many different projects to provide clothing, household items and furniture to needy families that live in the mountains.
sounds great!!!
When I retired I was given a plaque: WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU KNEW YOU COULD NOT FAIL – this and chocolate inspired me to become a long-distance, long-term volunteer. I set my own parameters and – although I am on a limited income – enjoy a life complete with travel, friends, and fulfillment. Giving back has always been a quest and now I have it all. Never been happier!
Finding more meaning in your work, doing business based on your core values is a topic I am passionate about.I love helping aspiring entrepreneurs start a business that means something more than money. Yes, we do need to earn a living so why not create a livelihood that also solves social issues or or drives change? More women (and men) are asking how they can make a living and make a difference in their communities or in the world. This is the theme of the “Inspired Livelihood” workshop coming up in Sedona AZ, April 16th and 17th. Barbara Winter, author of best selling book “Making a Living without a Job” and Alice Barry of “Entertaining the Idea” and I will be working with a small group of people who are ready to create a livelihood where the bottom line is measured by more than just net profit. You can read all about it at http://www.inspiredlivelihood.com/events/