Volunteering Can Unlock A New Thing

Crys and her favorite horse Hershey

The volunteer experience isn't always in the doing.

Sometimes it's in what the doing unlocks. Volunteering, you see, can unlock a new thing.

Before COVID my wife Crys volunteered at Saddle Up, a therapeutic riding organization. She was a sidewalkers. She lead horses. She showed up.

But the real story? She wrote a book—from the horse's point of view. Hershey, one of the therapy horses, became the narrator. The book interprets the program, captivates readers, and raises money for the organization.

She didn't set out to write a book. She set out to volunteer. The book happened because she was there, paying attention, connected to the mission.

If you're volunteering somewhere and you're passionate about it, ask yourself: what could this unlock? What story could you tell? What creative contribution could amplify the work?

You don't have to write a book. But you might discover something beyond the task list—something that spreads the word, deepens the impact, or surprises everyone involved.

The volunteer opportunity you take might lead somewhere you didn't expect. That's the point.

Ed Zinkiewicz

Your Aging in Life Strategist