The Upside Down Turned Right Side Up!
The world is a different place than when I began my journey with Extreme Community Makeover (ECM) in 2015. Lately, it seems I am bouncing back and forth between two dreams; one where we all seem to be living in an episode of Stanger Things….The Upside Down, and another where I am filled with more hope, fully awake and aware, excited to be here during this time, and steeped deeper in compassion, love, and service.
Amazing that in 2020 our country and world is still struggling with racism, a virus outbreak, control, service to self, abuse to our planet and living in fear. For sure, many of us have had our eyes opened as to what has been going on in our world, others still living in blissful ignorance. Some adding fuel to the fire, others stepping forward and doing their best to improve our situation; much like ECM. Like my fellow humans; I once found myself in blissful ignorance but am now in blissful awareness and I wouldn’t have been able to make that change in my life without volunteering at ECM.
More than 5 years ago I found myself single and living in a different life than what I had planned. Feeling lost, alone, and up to my chin in my own tired story I knew I had to make another change. I had left my old life, but in many ways, I was still clinging to it…action was necessary. I signed up for VolunteerMatch.org; much like a dating site a match is based on interests, experience and skills. I “liked” ECM and they “liked” me, and a match was made!
I get the honor of writing stories for the ECM blog; mining for the goodness in humanity. Finding goodness, good vibes, service to others and loads of compassion is never hard to find amongst our volunteers and Extreme Teams. Our volunteers have demonstrated season after season an example of what it means to do for others through kindness and compassion. Their hard work always done beyond what is expected, efficiently, timely and ALWAYS with a smile - working together, playing together, supporting each other, supporting the neighborhood and community. Our residents/the people we serve are often brought to tears due to the overwhelming generosity of our volunteers.
ECM and its volunteers have demonstrated what can be transformed in a person, a home, a neighborhood and a community by showing that everyone matters and sometimes we need help. For sure, volunteering with ECM has helped me to move my self-worth from a 2 to a 10 and is possibly doing this for our residents and the neighborhoods, as well. If you are looking for a community that is steeped in compassion, service to others, love, joy, and working side by side with smiling, happy people, then you have found that place at Extreme Community Makeover.