Life begins at RETIREMENT

Without disclosing the specific name, the organization I am serving focuses on helping people in distress. There is a weekly 3 hour training program for the next 3 months' for new volunteers. We've just completed 2 training so far. It has been fun for me.

What I noticed is that during training, we are very focused on applying what we have learned in the commercial world to this voluntary organization. While the experience is good, it is NOT appropriate and may actually cause more harm. We have to slow down our 'problem solving', 'take charge' attitude. Instead, we have to understand the skills to be a successful member of the voluntary organization. We as volunteers have this obligation.

I believe this is possible but only when we have empty our minds of the past experience and to now focus on ACQUIRING new skills. This is the new volunteer's main challenge and one that will define whether we have the ability to learn.

To be successful in learning, we need to remove all barriers that blocks our learning. These barriers include:

- "I have many year's experience"

- "I have done this before"

- "yea, yea, I hear you but I have my own ways of doing things"

- "oh, I am too old to learn"

- "the lecturer is too young to teach someone like me"

In any case, if we fail to pass the tests confirming we have the relevant skills for this voluntary service, one cannot serve.

This is a good challenge.