WHY I LOVE VOLUNTEERING

As you may or may not know, I LOVE volunteering. I love making people feel better and helping them.

I started to fall in love with helping others in 7th grade when I had to volunteer somewhere for a school project (I had to write a journal of what it felt like and my experience). My school didn't give many options for 13-year-olds, so I ended up volunteering at a school for autistic kids once a week (for 3 hours).
I worked with a couple of my friends with the first graders, which was really hard. They were hard to communicate with. None of us liked it too much, but we didn't really have an option.
But I did like the idea of helping people who can't help themselves. When I told people about what I do they were proud of me and it made me feel good.

In 8th grade, I had more options of where I wanted to volunteer at, and I chose a home for abused families. A few of my friends (different ones, who I wasn't as close with) went with me on Fridays. This was no longer for a grade, although it would be mentioned on our report cards.
I really liked the place. The kids were really nice and I played with them. We'd jump on their trampoline until it broke (literally, that happened), filled in colouring pages when it was yucky (cold) outside, played hide and seek and even had water fights a few times. It was really fun.
I love that place, what they do and the people there. Unfortunately, I don't go there anymore since I flew to America this summer, and I never arranged to start going again, which is a shame.

This year, I'm not exactly volunteering. I'm taking a course by The Red Flag (MADA - Israel's main ambulance service) so I can volunteer with them starting next year. The course is on Sundays from 5-9PM and there's A LOT of learning done. I won't lie, it's hard, but I think the things I'm learning and will be very useful for my future.
Since I live in Israel, I will have to go to the army when I'm 18, and this MADA experience is going to help me become a paramedic/first aid person in the army. I've always said that I want to do something that makes a difference in the army, but I don't want to be out with a gun people trying to kill / kidnap me. I love my country, but there's a limit.

Throughout this whole experience, I've also been passively volunteering with Jeremy's Circle (which I will write a blog post about) but it's my moms organisation, but basically we help family's who have Cancer in the family be who they are (mostly let kids be kids). At Jeremy's Circle, I mostly play / talk to other kids and brighten up their days. I also hand out our T-Shirts, chocolate milk and lunch.

In conclusion, I think it's easy to say I like helping others, even if it's just a bit. If you currently need help with any mental issues or just having a bad time I recommend you check out this post or this Pinterest board.

What do you do to make others feel better? Do you volunteer anywhere?

Picture credit

IF YOU NEED MOTIVATION TO RECOVER

If you've been here for my old blog (Zoe's Secret Style), you probably know that I suffer from depression, and have gone through rough times.
I have started recovering almost two years ago, and I take medication on a daily basis. I will never forget what depression is like, but I am getting happier.
I have been absent from the blogging community part of the internet for a few months, and now that I'm back, I realize, not everyone is recovering. A lot of people are still suffering from mental illness, and a lot of those are in the exact same place they were X time back. 

And just to think that makes me sad. I remember what it's like. I remember hating myself. I remember crying myself to sleep every night, and I remember thinking that was normal. I remember hurting.

I just wanted to say, to whoever's struggling with an issue like depression / anxiety / etc., it can get better. A lot of people will tell you it will go away, it's just a phase. It might 'go away' by itself. But it probably won't.

Fight for it. Fight for your mental health. Fight for your happiness.

Click to Tweet: Fight for your mental health. Fight for your happiness. 

If you wait and cry, nothing's going to happen except you feeling sorry for yourself, and it will, most likely, just get worst.

If you want to feel better, which you do (don't give yourself that 'I deserve to suffer' crap because you don't and you deserve better), try talking about it. Family members, friends, psychologists, psychiatrists, or anyone else you feel comfortable talking to.

If you don't want to talk about it, or can't, there are other ways to get the terrible feelings out of you.

Some of you like looking for positive quotes on Pinterest, some of you like painting, or reading or writing or listening to music or watching TV and get yourself distracted.

Some of you like breaking things because it gets the stress out of you. Some of you like working out.

And some of you don't like any of these, and that's okay. Explore. Try new things until you find what makes you happy. 

Try to be happy.

Convince yourself you're happy. It might feel like you're lying to yourself, but lying becomes reality. Fake it until you make it.

You'll feel better faster if you start doing something about your condition.

I hope you all feel better, even if you aren't suffering from a mental illness.

I love you, and I care about you. I genuinely want you to feel better.

Picture credit - Pinterest