By AMY SHANKLAND
Sandwiched
Last Saturday I volunteered for the morning shift at Agape Therapeutic Riding Center’s Mane Event horse show in Cicero. If you’ve never been there, by the way, I highly recommend you visit – it’s one of the top centers in the country.
If you recall, last weekend was brutally hot, and I was a bit nervous for all of us as we gathered in prayer. Would the riders, their families, the horses, the staff, and volunteers be okay?
But I soon pushed away my thoughts and just dove in, helping out wherever and whenever I could. I walked alongside happy kids and teenagers to make sure they were safe on their horses, braided manes, scooped poop, and set up tents. I chatted occasionally with other volunteers and got to know some incredible people.
My deodorant basically quit working. I had sweat in my eyes and barn dust covering me from head to toe. By the time we all sat down to eat Chick-fil-A (which I devoured in less than 10 minutes) I felt absolutely gross.
And yet, I was incredibly happy as I drove home afterwards. I realized I hadn’t felt that good in weeks. Why? Because I had been helping others for four hours without a moment to spare.
2021 is becoming just as bad as 2020, if not worse, for many of us. I’ve had some personal blows this year that I’ve shared with you. I know I’m not alone in feeling like throwing in the towel some days.
But I’ve been forgetting one great way to deal with worry and stress – getting busy. Even better, we need to get busy helping others.
Sure, work and writing my books keep my mind occupied. And you would think yard work and home projects would do the same. Unfortunately, many of the latter tasks allow my mind to wander. I’ll bet many of you experience the same thing.
When you’re volunteering alongside others, however, both your body and mind are focused on the tasks at hand. There’s no time to think! Plus, you get the bonus of knowing you’ve made a difference for others and for an organization.
It can be tough to find the time to do this, especially if you’re in the sandwich generation. But even an hour a week, like what I typically do at Agape, can make all the difference. We’re outside a lot and we wear our masks, so it’s been a good activity during this pandemic.
If you’re worried and stressed (heck, who isn’t right now?) and not volunteering somewhere, look up opportunities at your favorite organization or church. Find something safe that will keep both your mind and body occupied. You’ll be amazed at the difference even a little bit of time can make.
Shameless plug – if you love kids and horses, I’ve got the perfect place for you! Check out Agape at agaperiding.org.