While at Cypress County Fire Services last year I had a discussion with the wife of a crew member about how everything we do is volunteer. Being middle age, I didn’t argue with this, rather saw what she said – aren’t we all “volunteering” at every activity we choose to be part of? I’ve been told many times, “quit” volunteering for everything – don’t you want to get paid?
Realize I am getting paid. Years ago, my hubby encouraged me the opposite: “Keep volunteering,” and I’m glad I do. If I hadn’t volunteered to marry, have kids, travel, educate, work, move on, I wouldn’t be where I am today – enjoying life and who I am with gratitude.
“Pay” isn’t always about seeing a paycheque. “Pay” can be how your soul is enriched by spending time doing whatever meaningful role you choose. What means something to you doesn’t necessarily mean anything to the person next to you.
In the community, I volunteer at various events, mainly the Esplanade, Co-op Place and Victory Lutheran Church.
With southern Alberta roots, I moved around for 22 years before returning, feeling full of purpose and future. Like other communities I lived in, I dove into learning about the people and culture, and what I missed while I wasn’t there and what’s important for today and tomorrow. A lot of people want the same things I do – peace, hope, culture, support, encouragement, sense of community and belonging.
I love meeting new people and spending time with the ones I already know and love. It’s challenging to choose an event that has been my favourite – it was always a dream to see Bryan Adams in concert, and so to do that as a volunteer was definitely a highlight. It wasn’t just Bryan Adams that made the concert successful; it was every single volunteer, staff member, concertgoer, gift-giver-of-tickets, promoter and so on that made the night special. And it wasn’t Bryan Adams I thought of when I was there, it was my family.
Andie Wirsch is a City of Medicine Hat volunteer
