Start Doing…

“You can’t get very far until you start doing something for somebody else”
– Melvin Jones

The above quote is one that I have come to really like over the past few weeks. It is from Melvin Jones the founder of Lions Clubs International as we know it today. It all started in 1917 with a vision of a young insurance salesmen. He felt that all these successful businessmen who were meeting to discuss business and other areas of their life could do more for their communities. In 1925 Hellen Keller challenged the Lions to be the “Knights of the Blind in the Crusade against Darkness”.  This is the most well known service of Lions Club International, though there have been many other service projects and causes that Lions have partaken in. 

I am proud to serve in the largest service organization in the world. It has been within the last few weeks of attending a Leadership Institute, and partaking in learning sessions at the state level that I have come to realize just how much I enjoy serving. In the past 6 months of being unemployed I have served in many capacities; as a softball coach for 7 & 8 year old girls, a Girl Scout Troop Leader for 6-8 year olds, in Lions not only as a webmaster and secretary, but in activities such as raising money for projects to help those with low vision. 

The service has lessened the impact of the depression that has cropped up. It’s lessened the lack of self confidence. It has given me a sense of belonging in an area where I have never belonged. It has provided the grounding when the rest of life get thrown out of whack. Service has made my life move forward when I didn’t care for it to. It has given and provided experiences that I could only have dreamed of having. 

Melvin Jones was really onto something when he said, “You can’t get very far until you start doing something for someone else.” 

If something seems to be missing from your life, give service a try. You don’t have to be apart of an organization to do it either. Service could be as simple as saying good morning, everyday to your elderly neighbor, or providing an ear to listen to that friend who just suffered a great loss.  It might surprise you how different you’ll feel from completing that simple act.