[sammyg2]

I used to do allot of volunteer work, now I do a little.
One thing someone told me that stuck in my head after getting burned big time by someone I was trying to help:
NAVY
never again volunteer yourself.

When I was younger I tried to help drug addicts get their lives back together.
Don't bother. I've been screwed over way more than I've helped.

You really want to make a difference in the community? Volunteer to help shut-in widows. They really need it and really appreciate it, but you'll have to get used to getting your heart broken on a regular basis.
It's the hardest thing I've ever done. Your local pastor can help you set it up.
I'm not strong enough to do it more than once in a while.
The hardest is at the Christmas holidays.
About every other year we'll bring an elderly woman into our home to share Christmas with us who has no real family.
You'll make a difference in their lives for a little while but it will hurt so much you'll say you can't do it again.
After a while you'll forget how bad it felt when you had to take them home to that lonely place where they are waiting to die alone, and remember their joy when they get to care about someone for a little while and have someone care about them.
That will really make you appreciate all you have and make you feel ashamed for taking it for granted.
Believe it or not it even makes me stop being an ******* for a little while.