You may read the title of this blog and think, “No, I don’t have any spare time.”  I hope to enlighten you a little here.  If you are reading this blog, you have spare time.

Just how much of it do you have though?  Enough to share?

Think critically about your time for a moment.  How much of it are you able to spend watching TV, playing games, reading books, going out to eat, or doing other recreational activities?  Whether you spend most of that free time alone or with others, you may want to consider sharing that time.

I made the decision to do just in 2012 with a volunteer application.  I have had the honor and privilege of being a “Big Sister” through the charity “Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Florida“.

What does being a “Big” involve?  Two hours, twice a month.  Only four hours per month of your time can have a huge impact on a child.

Think about that for a moment.  Can you spare 4 hours, out of the 720 hours you have in a month to share with a child?  The best part is, that you can do many of the same things you would be doing anyways.  Your “Little” will be happy just spending time with you.

I’ve taken my Little Sister kayaking, shopping, and to the movies.  We love to go out for meals together and I often get to introduce her to new places and cuisines.

I asked her not long ago what she liked best about hanging out with me.  I was fully expecting her to say something along the lines of specific activities we’ve done together.  Instead, she blew me away.  Her response: “I love how close we’ve become and the time we spend together.”  My heart swelled up along with the tears in my eyes.

Think about your time again now.  Could you share 2 hours of an activity that you’d be doing anyways with a “Little”?  I promise you won’t regret it.

I encourage you to check out the links on my Volunteer Links page.  You’ll find links to BBBS internationally.