Are you a volunteer?

To answerer the question, are you a volunteer, we need a definition of Volunteer of which there are many. This is my definition.

VOLUNTEER: A person who voluntarily undertakes or expresses a willingness to undertake a service while having no legal concern or interest, no moral or social obligation, and without being asked to volunteer by a friend or relative or organization of which you are a member.

Yes, this is a very restrictive definition, but I find it is also the most rewarding type of volunteering. When people respond to a friend's or organization's request of which they are a member, there is always some moral or social pressure applied. So in my mind it is not totally voluntary. Do not get me wrong! There is absolutely nothing wrong with responding positively to such requests. Just be aware that you will not get the maximum benefit from this sort of volunteering. However, it is a very good place to start volunteering.

Now you may be thinking that volunteering is all about giving without "benefitting". I can guarantee that if you are not receiving some sort of benefit, you will not volunteer very long. There are many benefits from volunteering. Understanding what your needs are and volunteering in a way that maximizes them is simply smart volunteering.

So, are you a volunteer, or should I ask, what kind of volunteer are you? Are you benefitting from volunteering? I would like to hear from you. Give me some feedback.