With only a few days left to make a new year’s resolution, I have to ask: Am I a bad person?
For the past couple of weeks, not-for-profit organizations have been in full swing looking to get as many volunteers as possible out to help those in need. After all, it’s the time of year when people need our assistance the most and volunteer opportunities abound: Whether it’s wrapping gifts for charities, collecting toys for children, or ringing that not-at-all-annoying bell for the Sally Ann Kettle Campaign. So if the time to give back to this city is now, then why aren’t I doing it?
It’s not like I don’t care. Honestly, I really do. But caring and putting those feelings into action seems to be harder than you would think, and I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. Like Christmas shopping, I think a lot of Calgarians seem to procrastinate on giving back — usually, we think we’re “going to get around to it,” but before you know it, the new season of Dancing With The Stars is back on and you can’t imagine giving up another night.
As awful as it sounds, I sometimes feel like I just don’t have time and, quite frankly, I’m jealous of the people that do. I can already feel you reaching for your phones to tweet my editor (@darren_krause) a nasty letter about my confession. How could someone admit they don’t have time for charity? Well, I’m kind of hoping that me admitting I have a problem will be the first step to fixing it. But here’s the thing, by me admitting I could do more, I’m kind of banking on you probably thinking the same thing.
To be clear, it’s not like I don’t do anything. Just last week, I was caroling to collect food for the Calgary Food Bank, admittedly that was probably more about me finally hearing how my shower-tested vocals compared to my co-carolers. (For those curious, I’m definitely not the next Michael Buble.) But how long does the karma of a good deed last?
So that’s why I’m officially declaring my New Year’s resolution to be volunteering in Calgary. Well first, I need to stop thinking that actually paying for the C-Train, is an act of charity.
Repeat after me: poor management of Calgary Transit does not make it a charity, poor management of Calgary Transit does not make it a charity…
Am I worried this resolution will fade away like those of years past? Absolutely. But surely volunteering has to be less time consuming than flossing, so I at least have to give it a shot.
