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I’ve been looking around for places that I might be able to  “help out” in the communities near my home.  As part of that exploration, I started  taking a UC Berkeley class, Engaging with Life, at OLLI, Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.   (The class has an amazing syllabus with links to interesting articles and videos: syllabus ) The professor of the class provides a warm, supportive environment, with contacts to a variety of  remarkable local agencies that welcome volunteers.

I was a “Resource Specialist” in elementary school for many years, so figured that I might have some experience that could be helpful in classrooms where adults are learning English.

So…. I signed up to volunteer at Refuge Transitions, in some adult English language classes for refugees and immigrants from various countries of the world.

But…then…some doubts started popping into my mind … “what if….???”  ….”what if….???”

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I was amazed!!!  I’ve had lots of experience teaching English reading and speaking to children who are second language learners…and yet…the doubts continued to pop up!  Isn’t that amazing?

So… I went back to reminding myself of the “steps” from a post I made in July… “Compassion In Action”   The actual steps are from a book called Compassion in Action, by Ram Dass and Mirabai Bush.

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I thought lots more about each of those steps!  I wanted to think of specific ideas I might “say” to myself for reassurance and encouragement.

Perhaps, some of these ideas might be useful for others to use,  too….

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Be brave…..

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Start small….

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Use what you’ve got….

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Do something you enjoy….

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Don’t overcommit….

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And…
ideas about those “5 steps” together on one page,
a “menu” of ideas for each of us to choose from,
a variety of potentially reassuring and encouraging ideas

(link: pdf copy of the page below Compassionate Action Steps and Explanations)

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Last week, I did start volunteering in a beginning adult English class and had a wonderful time!  The people in the class that day were immigrants or refugees from  Eritrea, Ethiopia, Yemen, Afghanistan, Guatemala and Myanmar and a few other countries! All of the students were warm, friendly, cheerful and willing to try hard!  And, to think, I was concerned about having courage to help out???   (Ah ha!  That’s suggestion #4 under “Be brave”….. “Focus on others needing help or support, not oneself” )

What remarkable courage ALL of the people in that class have….new country, new language, new customs….new everything….all day, every day….new, unfamiliar and potentially confusing!  And I was worried? Wow!

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So…
reminding myself and others….

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We all have so many skills and talents that might be helpful to others!

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