Words Natasha Jackson, CPHR,
Psychological Health & Safety Professional and Workplace Health Consultant
How Volunteering Fills Your Bucket While Building Your Village
You know that feeling of standing in the middle of a crowded marketplace, surrounded by hundreds of people going about their day, yet somehow feeling completely alone? Everyone’s rushing past with purpose, moving through their routines, while you’re just … there. Present but not really connected. Visible but somehow invisible at the same time.
I’ve felt that way more times than I can count, and it took me a while to realize that some of my most meaningful connections and happiest moments have come from simply showing up to help others.
My journey with volunteering started back in 1994 when as a teenager I had the incredible opportunity to be Klee Wyck, the official mascot for the Commonwealth Games. Looking back now, that experience sparked something in me – this passion for community involvement that I didn’t even know I was looking for. It showed me that volunteering doesn’t have to be some massive long-term commitment that eats up all your free time. Sometimes it’s just showing up for an event, a day or a moment.
Right now, I’m checking off a significant bucket list item by giving back to the ballpark that brought me so much joy during my youth. I’m coaching a girls fastball team alongside two amazing women I’ve known for over 40 years – we played fastball together and literally grew up side by side. Here’s the thing though – I hadn’t spent any significant time with them in the past 25 years. Life just … happened, you know? But when we came together to give back, our friendships picked up right where we left off, and I honestly cannot describe in words what this means to me. Watching us contribute together, seeing that bond we share still so strong after all these years – it’s been one of those full-circle moments that fills your heart in ways you didn’t know you needed.
That’s the thing about volunteering that nobody really talks about – it’s this beautiful kind of tired that actually fills your bucket instead of draining it. Research shows that over 90% of Canadians want to volunteer, but only about 25% actually do it, and I think part of that gap comes from this idea that we need to commit to something huge and life-changing when really, some of the most powerful connections happen through those smaller, one-off opportunities.
Remember how we talked about eight-minute conversations and micro-connections in my last article? Well, volunteering is like the perfect playground for those moments to grow into something bigger. Last year, I had the privilege of volunteering for the Invictus Games in Vancouver, and I formed friendships with people from around the world. We still stay connected, and honestly, I never expected that showing up for a few days would create bonds that would last beyond the event itself.
I’ve watched this happen over and over again in my own life – those quick hellos and shared laughs during volunteer shifts that somehow turned into people I genuinely care about and who care about me back. There’s something about working toward a common goal with others that breaks down those weird social barriers we usually carry around, and suddenly you’re having real conversations with people you might never have met otherwise.
The science backs this up too – volunteering literally boosts your mood and mental health in eight different ways, from practising gratitude to building social bonds to creating that sense of meaning we all crave. And here’s the beautiful part – it works as an antidote to loneliness by shifting your focus from your own worries to helping others, which significantly lowers stress levels.
So, here’s my challenge for you – instead of waiting for the perfect long-term volunteer opportunity to fall into your lap, look for something small and manageable that speaks to you.
Maybe it’s helping at a local 5K, spending an afternoon at a community garden or lending a hand at a neighbourhood event. The key is showing up with genuine intention to help others, because that’s where the real magic happens.
Your community is out there waiting for you to show up, and trust me, they need what you have to offer just as much as you need what they can give you back. Sometimes the best way to fill your own bucket is to help fill someone else’s first.
What’s your next small step toward showing up going to be?
