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How Volunteer Work Can Help You to Find Meaning in Your Life After 60

By Margaret Manning December 23, 2015 Mindset

As young women, we found a great deal of meaning in our volunteer work. Then, life took over. As our energy shifted to our families, many of us found it increasingly difficult to stay engaged with the volunteer organizations that we loved.

Of course, this is not universally the case. Many of us got our kids involved in our favorite charities. Others contributed to worthy causes financially, when our time became more stretched. That said, there is no denying that volunteer work became harder to prioritize as employees and moms.

Now, as we reach our 60s, many older women are once again looking to get involved with volunteer work. Our kids may be out of the house, but, we still have a driving urge to make the world a better place.

At Sixty and Me, we want to do everything in our power to help women to get involved with the causes that they believe in. So, to help you get started, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favorite articles on volunteering. I hope that you find them useful and inspiring!

Here are 6 articles to help you find meaning in your life through volunteering.

Feeling Alone? These 6 Volunteering Websites Will Help You Make Friends and Make a Difference

One of the biggest challenges that we face when it comes to volunteering is deciding which organizations to support. After all, there are thousands of causes in the world and we have a limited amount of time and energy to engage with them.

Fortunately, there are plenty of websites that can help you to find volunteer opportunities that are a perfect match for your skills and passions. This article features 6 volunteering websites to help spark your imagination. Read the article.

Volunteer Work Will Also Improve Your Social Life

When we think about volunteering, we usually picture the good that we can do for others. What we forget is that volunteering is also an amazing way to improve the quality of our own lives. Engaging in volunteer work gives us the opportunity to meet people who see the world in the same way as we do. Many of these people have the opportunity to become true friends. Read the article.

Wondering What to Do in Retirement? Why Not Start With a Volunteer Vacation?

When we want to reinvent ourselves, it often helps to take a step back from our normal lives and try something truly exotic. At the same time, traveling doesn’t have to be all about beaches and cocktails (unless you want it to be.) There are plenty of opportunities to give back to the world, while finding meaning in your life. For example, you could try a volunteer vacation. Read the article.

6 Reasons a Family Volunteer Vacation is So Much Better than Disney World

Be honest. How many vacations from your childhood do you remember? The trips that I hold in my heart are the ones that had special meaning – not the ones that cost the most money. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that I am such a fan of volunteer vacations.

In a world that puts so much emphasis on instant gratification and selfishness, volunteer vacations help us to see the world through the eyes of others. For our grandkids, volunteer vacations are an opportunity to learn that the world does not revolve around them. Just as important – they are a lot of fun! Read the article.

What to Do in Retirement: Sharing Your Passions and Gifts with the World

If you trying to decide which volunteer opportunities to pursue, it makes sense to start with your passions. No matter your age, educational background or experience, you have unique gifts to offer the world. No-one else sees things quite the same way as you – and that’s a good thing!

Watch this interview with Mary Eileen Williams and get ready to channel your passions into making the world a better place! Read the article.

Volunteering is one of the best ways to find meaning in your life at any age. When we make a difference in the lives of others, we come face to face with our own humanity. We are forced to realize that we are all connected. We find friends who share our interests.

Which volunteer organizations do you support? Do you agree that volunteering is one of the best ways to find meaning in your life at any age? Please join the conversation!

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The Author

Margaret Manning is the founder of Sixty and Me. She is an entrepreneur, author and speaker. Margaret is passionate about building dynamic and engaged communities that improve lives and change perceptions. Margaret can be contacted at margaret@sixtyandme.com

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