Volunteers: A whole new respect.

In my 34 years on this earth I have had the pleasure to volunteer in allot of places. I helped out as a young teen at the humane society working with pets, as I got older I helped out with the Metis Youth and learned leadership skills. As I got older those skills helped me get some great jobs, but my heart was always wanting to help somehow. I always found a way to volunteer a few hours when ever I could. The food bank, snowsuit drive, my kids school, the Clean up day or the YMCA, what ever it was I always gave it my all.

Yesterday as I was helping out at a water station that it hit me. I love to volunteer and if it wasn't for volunteers the amazing things in the world that we take for granted would probably never get done. We don't realize how many hard working people there are working behind the scenes who are there because they love what they do and do it for fun. Some people don't really think that Stress is fun but when you are there and see the smiles on the faces of the people that are receiving whatever it is that they are provided it is amazing. Wither it be reading to a child at the sick kids hospital, helping out at the local soup kitchen or like me, handing out water it is amazing to see the gratefulness in it all.

Last month I had a few of my children out handing out water to the runners at the local triathlon, and the runners "who are racing each other" would stop and thank my kids or coming out and making their days. It was amazing to see this and it really made me appreciate what we were doing. When I ran my 10 km race I didn't really think abut it. When I ran my half I thought "these guys are just insane to stand out here for hours to had out water." and yesterday I stood in heavy rain to had out water and realized yes we are crazy.

In closing I love to run races and since moving to Brockville I am run more races but I have helped out allot more and I love it. I want to say Thank You for all of the volunteers who take time away from their families, friends, and life to make every event a success. You all rock.