
Volunteering Detox
Volunteering Detox
30 X 24
2008 / #5
I probably won’t win any friends among those who live to volunteer, but personally, I can only take so much of that life. I volunteer quite a bit, but only for 3 types of organizations; those which benefit the visual arts, the Boy Scouts, or my children directly, such as the band. If I were to extend myself to all the groups that ask me, I would have no time to make art. Rather hard to be a working artist is one does not make any art.
When my kids were younger, I did get more involved with things, but now that they are older and I am older, it is someone else’s turn. My contemporaries feel the same way. In discussing this, we found there to be three types of women who stand out. First is the woman that makes lists, passes around signup sheets, and puts her name on all of them as well. I have handcuffed her to prevent any more lists and broken all the pencils. The “nurse” has extra pencils and my poor little victim can get them “no more”.
The second woman is the first to wave her arm and volunteer to do it, get it, make it, order it or chair it. Somewhat like a grown up version of the “pick me, pick me!!” kid in school. The nurse won’t let her wave anymore. Woman number three is the caller. She loves cell phones and is always talking on one, always answering one, each person has their own ring tone and so on. The fact that she cannot get to them right now, due to being bound up in red tape, had proven frustrating almost to the point of anxiety. Her name indicates that she has it, expects you to give it, and to give it until it hurts! (See the band aid?) The sign on the wall is not asking you to help out; it is telling you to let it go! Find some time for yourself before giving it away.
30 X 24
2008 / #5
I probably won’t win any friends among those who live to volunteer, but personally, I can only take so much of that life. I volunteer quite a bit, but only for 3 types of organizations; those which benefit the visual arts, the Boy Scouts, or my children directly, such as the band. If I were to extend myself to all the groups that ask me, I would have no time to make art. Rather hard to be a working artist is one does not make any art.
When my kids were younger, I did get more involved with things, but now that they are older and I am older, it is someone else’s turn. My contemporaries feel the same way. In discussing this, we found there to be three types of women who stand out. First is the woman that makes lists, passes around signup sheets, and puts her name on all of them as well. I have handcuffed her to prevent any more lists and broken all the pencils. The “nurse” has extra pencils and my poor little victim can get them “no more”.
The second woman is the first to wave her arm and volunteer to do it, get it, make it, order it or chair it. Somewhat like a grown up version of the “pick me, pick me!!” kid in school. The nurse won’t let her wave anymore. Woman number three is the caller. She loves cell phones and is always talking on one, always answering one, each person has their own ring tone and so on. The fact that she cannot get to them right now, due to being bound up in red tape, had proven frustrating almost to the point of anxiety. Her name indicates that she has it, expects you to give it, and to give it until it hurts! (See the band aid?) The sign on the wall is not asking you to help out; it is telling you to let it go! Find some time for yourself before giving it away.