In the past few weeks I started volunteering at a couple of local charities and I really feel rewarded for what I am doing.
There is a true need in our community to help people with many aspects of their lives, however, I fear there are some people not working to the best of their abilities to take care of themselves.
There are many days when I feel like a psychiatrist — many of the people seeking help also express their problems to me and I’m very happy that I can be their sounding board.
When I lost my leg in 2008, I learned that I should be so grateful for what I have. Losing a leg is absolutely awful and I would not wish it on my worst enemy.
I learned a valuable lesson from this; family is really all you have in this world.
I am so grateful to my husband Don for making this difficult transition as easy for me as possible.
After volunteering, and hearing so many other peoples’ problems, when I arrive home I give him a big hug and a kiss telling him how much I appreciate everything he says and does for me. I truly can see the “roses” in my life.
In our society, as in other countries, there are takers and there are givers.
I have no problems helping out people who genuinely need help, but I do wish that others would try to solve more of their problems.
I have learned that in many cases, we can be called the “Whine” generation.
People are so focused on their own problems; they cannot see the good that is still in their lives.
They fight with family and friends and many do not try to improve themselves.
They don’t seem to want to learn how to live their lives and be productive citizens.
If we are not always at a learning level, we will find ourselves put quite behind.
Now that I am older, I just don’t want to learn new technology, but it is so ever changing, I find I must adapt.
Today, I wish families could adapt to start appreciating each other, and to stop their bickering and not talking to each other.
Friends are great, but they can’t help each other out as much as family and I will always firmly believe this.
I have had the opportunity to tell people some of my trials and I also add that, should you throw your problems into a pile of other peoples’ problems, you would probably end up picking out your own problems.
To me, true heartache is a child diagnosed with a terminal illness; I can’t imagine anything worse that losing a child or losing my spouse.
I hear parents complaining about their children who don’t appreciate what they have been given.
I hear children complain about their parents, as well as spouses complaining about each other. The circle of this continues to go on and on.
I see families broken apart because of petty arguments that an “I’m so sorry,” if accepted, would solve a good part of the problem.
People are too quick to not forgive or understand each other these days.
In our country, especially, where people have so much freedom, expression and choice, I find myself reeling from hearing so much whining and hoping it can be lessened.
I know this will never completely happen, and I can only pray that each of us start to accept that we cannot completely change people, but perhaps we can nudge then along in the right direction and accept them for who they are.
Should this happen, people would be so much happier and content with their lives.
They would learn life is a blessing, and would focus more on the beautiful roses in their lives.
Jennifer J. Doering lives in Salisbury.