Volunteer
Have you ever felt that no one has listened to you all your life? Well, my volunteer work is doing just that – listening. I am a volunteer counselor. I got my master’s degree in counseling. I did full time counseling for two year. Then my life took a turn, and I became an educator – a teacher and a school district administrator. After I retired from my education career, I decided to do some volunteer work that makes a difference.
I got involved in the church counseling services. Many ladies, who seek help, expressed that I was the first person who listened to them. I feel privileged to witness God’s miracles intervene their lives. The counseling helped them to process their grief, anger, abuse, and other kinds of sufferings. At the end, they were able to experience self-forgiveness, forgiving, love, and a new life!
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Daily Prompt: Volunteer
The Showers of Blessings 
I’m taking up Masters in Counseling, and I just started. As a sensitive, and emphatic person.. I’ve been wondering if I can last with this type of work. We learn that we need to care for ourselves, so we won’t have compassion fatigue. I was just wondering if you have ever experienced being burnt out with hearing everybody else’s struggles in life?
I believe it is one of my passions too. To be able to reach out and help. I just hope I am up for the job.
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When I studies counseling. We watched a film about three type of counseling philosophy or personalities. One is more into teaching mode, teach the clients what to do. One is Carl Roger’s compassionate type, listen, empathize.The other is in the middle.
But professors always say, when you’re with your clients, you’re there 100%, but don’t carry the burdens home. Leave your work at work. That’s what I’ve been doing. The only thing I do at home would be researching to understand the clients’ syndrome, and what are the treatments out there that I’m not aware of. As far as emotionally, you can’t do anything. You can’t change your clients unless he/she is ready to do something. I listen carefully, then I always refer back to them that they said they want to get well. I appreciate you desire to help. It takes people like you to pursue this kind of services. Keep me informed as you go along with your program!!
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Thank you for this very informative response, Miriam. I really do appreciate it a lot. I will keep these things in mind. And I will surely update you! ❤
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Good! I would like to know how you’re doing with you’re learning!! 🙂
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I volunteer as a Crisis Advocate for Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault taking phone calls from individuals who have been sexually assaulted and if needed going on hospital visits when someone comes in for sexual assault and they are going to have a rape kit done. I just started last October and my shifts for some reason have been very light. I receive hardly any calls from the answering service so it is frustrating, because I do listen well like you. Thanks for this post and the reminder that we do make a difference ever so slightly when we listen.
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You’ll get busy eventually. Bless your services and may God be your wisdom and strength. I know I need that for my volunteer work! Thank you for sharing!!!!
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Reblogged this on The Showers of Blessing.
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Thank you Miriam for your beautiful words. I need them at a pivotal time in my life.
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You’re welcome. Take care. May God’s blessing be with your abundantly!
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I have felt this many times that listening is a great power. Thanks for helping others in such a powerful area.
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Thank you! I took a break during holidays. Now I just got a new client. The department doesn’t let me go. I think I do have listening ears and it’s worth to stay on even though sometimes it’s not convenient to my schedule. Thank you for your encouragement!
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Nice post!
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Thank you. I had one client who cried for the very first time in her 67 years of life. That made me cry also!
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Wow! Thanks for showing me way! I would love to do that as Im very good in lending my ears to others. I hope it could help others…
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When you help others, you help yourself along the way.
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Agree!
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Volunteering is a blessed way to give back. I do this exclusively working with persons who have dementia as a Reminiscence Coach. I also facilitate senior groups where we discuss various topics of interest and benefit to older age groups. Together we lift each other’s spirit. I am blessed to spend time around folks that are both witty and wise!
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I agree with you. When we serve, we are actually receive blessings beyond measure. Bless your service to people who have dementia. Couple of my friends’ parents are go through right now. I can see how anxious my friends are.
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We can (and we need) always to listen..connection with people just with our ears..sometimes it is hard to listen when people are too angry with others and sometimes don´t realize that they are really mad with themselves. In problems, relationships etc..others have only the power that we give..
Bless your attitude and your life.
🙂
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Thank you very much for your comment. You are right that when people are angry, they might be angry with something else or themselves, not at the immediate person she/he is talking with. That has to be brought up to their awareness, Thank you again.
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Thank you for sharing! You have given so many people a beautiful gift.
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Thank you! A gift freely received and freely give! 🙂
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That is beautiful <3. You are beautiful!
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Your comment make me feel more beautiful and joyful! Thank you so very much. I’ll keep up with my work then!
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What you describe is indeed a gift–wish you were near me so I could make appointments!
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You just made me smile, or a little giggle!! Where are you in the world? Iceland? 🙂 🙂
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Washington State, USA 🙂 What did I say that was funny? 🙂
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You said make appointment to see me. I went to Seattle Pacific U. in 1980. I go to Portland, Oregon very often because y daughter and he husband live there. They are coming to Orange County, CA to see us for Thanksgiving. We are going to see them for Christmas.
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I remember that you have ties to OR–that’s great that you’ll see your daughter for both holidays! I wonder how traveling affects your health issues–sitting while traveling must be tough. And yes, I was thinking if you lived a short bus ride from me, I could make an appt 🙂 But CA is too far, so we’ll just have to make do with the Comment boxes 🙂
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Yes, the world can be very small and can be very big and far away!
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Amazing, isn’t it 🙂
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Service is such a high level of consciousness. Good for you! Sending many blessings on your volunteering 🙂 Big smiles — Debbie
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Thank you very much. Sometimes it’s hard when they don’t keep the appointment and don’t call to reschedule. I need support elsewhere for me to support them! 🙂
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Great post and so true! So few people are willing to ‘listen’ and all people really want is to be ‘heard.’ Keep up the good work 🙂
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Thank you. I need encouragement to stay with it. Sometimes they have no strength to keep up with the appointments, that makes it hard on me.
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Wish you all the very best!
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Thank you very much!
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It’s so nice to know that you are a volunteer counselor. It’s a really nice way of helping others. It is true that we sometimes feel like no one wants to listen or no one even hears or understands the things we have to say. Counselors are awesome.
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Thank you for our affirmation. God is my guidance and wisdom, and I am the vessel. 🙂
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Wow! This is so inspiring. You’ve achieved a lot in life. I love your work.
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Thank you! The opportunity came so naturally and timely. The counseling services is always there, I didn’t pay attention until I was available and was ready to do something. It turned out to be a blessing to me also knowing that I could help people one at a time.
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If I get a chance in life. I’ll even love to do this job someday 🙂
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My daughter volunteer once a month for an outreach program that feeds the homeless. This program also collect donations from companies such as travel size shampoo, lotion, even socks and underwears. Those women come and get refills. When they are done and linger, the volunteer and talk with them.
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This is outstanding! You guys are really going great. Cheers to her!
The world needs more of people like you 🙂
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Thank you very much of your comment. 🙂 We try to live a thankful life. 🙂
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Stay blessed 🙂
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Blessings to you also! 🙂
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I love how you express yourself Mom Mirriam, I’d like to compliment all you’r writeups becuase I can feel that they are all pure and genuinely made by heart. My love for you virtually is growing each day as I read your blogs. I am thankful, although we do not know each other personally but through blogs, I got to meet passionate people as you. ❤ Thanks Mom for being present all day in this blogging world. ❤
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Hi Lenny, thank you for calling me Mom. I had clients said she couldn’t talk to her mom and I was like a mom to her! I live a thankful life and I present it in a natural way to people around me. Thank you very much for your comment. I love your blog.
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Your blog seems dedicated for someone like me. It make me feel okay (if this don’t bother you) to call you mum.
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Not at all. You are not the only blogger calling me mom, mum is fine also. My husband is from Australia, he calls his mother, mum. It makes me feel privileged. 🙂
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Any other way, both will be fine! 🙂 Thanks mum! :* I hope to see you some time when I got to travel. R u in Australia?
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No, I am in California! Come over!
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It’s on the list. Not now, I’ll pray for that! 🙂
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Okay!
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That’s so kind and generous of you to give back to the society.In this world, people are in a rush and hardly have time to listen!!
Immense respect to you! 🙂
I have joined yesterday and wish to follow my heart here:
https://akash92blog.wordpress.com/2016/10/23/we-owe-them-all/
Hope you give your views there 🙂
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I’m coming to visit!
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Nice job
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Thank you so very much!
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This is such a great way to help others!I love this job if i get a a chance,but i don’t have enough time.. great work Miriam mam!My respect to you is increasing gradually.Keep doing good things and spread smiles all around you😊😊
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Thank you so much. I’ll keep reading yours. 🙂
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