Harnessing the Power of Friendships to Serve

My Dad told me, "tell me who your friends are and I will tell you who you are."  I didn't quite understand the message as a child.  As most of us, my rebellious side didn't like Dad telling me who my friends should be.  As I matured, I learned that the friends that I chose had a profound influence on my life.  They often guided my activities, my interests, my attitudes and more.  I learned that my feelings of value were driven by the people that I surrounded myself with and that when I did positive things in service that I felt better about myself.

I mentioned service above.  Serving others is a privilege.   It causes you to be grateful for what you have and to help others.  Working in organizations that serve, like Rotary International, introduces you to local leaders that are interested in serving their community and the world.  You will make lifelong friendships, contribute to your community, have fun and improve your outlook.  It will give your family a sense of belonging.   If you are under 30, Rotaract (a part of Rotary) is a great place to meet professionals in your community to exchange ideas, develop leadership and professional skills and have fun through service.  If you are over 30, Rotary Club provides similar opportunities.

Have kids?  I am sure that you research schools and related activities before selecting your home but there are great ways to help your kids meet new people and become involved in the community.  Interact Clubs are a part of Rotary International and highly active in communities.  Involvement will allow your children to take action to make a difference in their schools and community, discover new cultures, promote international understanding and become leaders in their schools and communities.  The driving ideal behind Rotary is "Service Above Self."  There are regular meetings, service projects, community events and more.  In addition, many Rotary Clubs sponsor scholarships for the local Interact Member.

Don't forget Church.  Church is a strong building block for your family and provides a great opportunity to make new friends, and be encouraged by the pastors and leadership team.  It will also give you an outlet for service to your community.  You will receive love from others within the Church and allow you to demonstrate love to others.  Church helps you to re-order your priorities and helps to promote a happy marriage.   Your new friends will help you to better integrate into your community and assist with learning how to serve your community as well.

Meeting new people that are interested in serving the community and helping to improve the way of life of others is always productive.   Invest the efforts and you will be handsomely rewarded.