Here's a hint:
If, after more than two years of volunteering my precious spare time to basically sit in a room with multiple Type A personalities and mentally bash my head against a brick wall, and during that time what was once a passion to help became a slowly festering sore of hostility towards anything involving that worthy cause, after countless phone calls interrupting my paid work day for ridiculous reasons, after staring at the ceiling night after night, my stomach in knots about the responsibilities that I have placed on myself and that others have shoved in my direction, after putting myself and my husband farther down the list of priorities for far too long, if after all that I decide that I need to step down...
Calling me a half-dozen times within twenty-four hours of my emotional and painful resignation? Asking me to reconsider, not because you need me, but because you don't want a certain other individual to be involved? Bad-mouthing other people and complaining about what's going on...?
Is NOT helping your cause. It only makes me realize I made the right damn choice.
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3 comments:
Here, here!!! I can totally symapthize with you (as Joe will attest to in some of the e-mail I sent him). It is nice and proper and righteous to serve others, but there are way too many organizations out there that seem to take your 5% of generosity to mean you really want to give 100% of your time. I've been there on more than one occasion. Hang in there... One thing to offer - don't give up on the volunteering, just find some other cause that you might enjoy and slowly help a little here and there. By the way, I also found it much more satisfying (and much less likely to be sucked in by the vaccum), when I volunteered for something UNRELATED to my 9-to-5 daily grind (i.e. stay away from Habitat Director of Construction when you spend your 40+ hours a week managing construction projects). As nice as it is to use your paid talents on some other cause, it's too easy to get drawn in. Just my $0.02 - I'll step off the soap box now......
Welcome to the world of volunteering for needy dysfunctional non-profits. Eric has good advice for when you're ready to jump back in again, for a different cause! But for now, take a big old break!!!
You know, it's been my experience that the people who fuss at you the most for not volunteering are frequently the people whose ineptitude you have been spending all your energy covering up for. Just sayin'. ;-) Rock the fuck on, and take some time for yourself! And, nill illigitimi carborundum!
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