Experiment Day 18 and 19: Helping Others (Miller's Merry Manor)

I set a goal for myself to help out a lot at the nursing home this weekend.  I wanted to be there a lot to experience the residents daily life and to be able to provide assistance and help wherever it was needed.  I enjoyed Saturday the most.  I was able to help Christina, one of the residents who most of the staff at the nursing home say is very shy and quiet, but I saw a different side of Christina and I feel like I was able to bring out the outgoing and very talkative side of her.  The staff at Miller's Merry Manor seemed to be very shocked, but Christina and I talked for hours and hours.  We talked about her family and mine and her life and all I can say is wow it made time fly because before I knew it, I had spent over six hours at the nursing home in one day.  I loved it so much that I think volunteering is going to stay in my life and I hope to continue to go to the nursing home at least once a week if not more.  I love the feeling of being able to provide help and services to those who need it and also to just be a smiling face and someone that they can talk to.  I am enjoying this project more and more everyday.

I also was able to play bingo with about ten to fifteen of the nursing home residents and to see the smiles on their faces and for them to tell me thank you and how much fun they had, it was priceless and made me feel very good and happy about volunteering there.  I also was able to read to some of the residents who love to read, but due to eye or hand problems, haven't been able to read and so it was a joy to them to have me sit there and we read together and this is going to continue over the next few weeks because I already have two requests from other residents who want me to read to them next.  I feel pure joy and happiness when I am at the nursing home because I know that I brightening up their day and that I can help every single one of the residents, even if it is only in a small way.