Often times when we want to simplify our lives we are told volunteering needs to go. I couldn’t disagree more. Volunteering for many gives them purpose. Serving others can be fulfilling. And the needs are many while the workers are few.

The trick is to find out what you are passionate about and serve there. Don’t say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. If you are in charge of the PTA, head up a church committee, teach Sunday School, serve at a soup kitchen, do online campaigning to save the whales and run a marathon for Breast cancer you are probably spreading yourself out too much. None of the organizations get your full attention and passion.

I am very specific with what I will and will not volunteer for. I volunteer weekly at a couple different places – places where I use my talents and skills, places where I feel called to be. I always take at least a day or two to think and pray before saying yes to a volunteer opportunity.

But, don’t ask me to bake cookies or do transportation somewhere. Those are better left to someone who enjoys that.

Giving back instead of only consuming is such a big part of a simpler life for me. I urge you to find the best way for you to volunteer.

Note: This post is my contribution to Blog Action Day, joining thousands of other bloggers to write about one topic for a single day. This year’s topic is the environment.

Most people are concerned about the environment, but in people’s busy lives it is easy to put caring for the environment below more “urgent” concerns. But each of us can make small changes that impact the world. I see more and more people taking action and through this action we will see a better environment.

Here are some changes I have made, and see if they are things you could do:

• Recycling
• Using environmentally friendly cleaners
• Working from home – no commute
• Walking or biking when possible
• Bringing our egg cartons back to the farmer’s son that sells us brown eggs so they can reuse
• Getting as much local food as possible so less fuel for the commute
• Fixing things that have broken and then we don’t have to buy a new one
• Taking good care of our things so they last
• Buying things used
• Bringing our canvas bag to the stores so we don’t need as many bags
• Thinking before buying something
• A month long spending fast each year
• Replacing our iridescent light bulbs with fluorescent
• Buying many foods that are organic
• Living in a small, older home
• Gardening

Next up: Learning about good for the environment cosmetics and cooking more from scratch

What are some things you are doing for the environment or plan to do?

I was reading an article in this month’s Guideposts magazine. A quote popped out at me. It went something like, “At the end of life, know one wished they spent more time at the mall.”

Think of all the purchases you have made in the last few months. How many do you even remember? How many are making a lasting impact of joy in your life?

In many cases your money can be better spent in saving for the future, paying off debt, or in experiences like plays, music, traveling and lunches out with friends.

Our best memories are usually of people we love doing things we love.

My sister Debbie has decided to run a half marathon. I am so proud of her. She really is not a runner, but has been looking for more opportunities to serve. She is busy with two social work jobs and with her church, but this is a cause close to both our hearts.

She is running to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Our Uncle John died of leukemia way too young, when his son was just a tiny boy. So many of the patients are just kids or young people.

You can read more or donate at http://www.active.com/donate/tntmi/Gambino.

Earlier this year I wrote a post on Are You Rich? where I showed how you may be richer than you think. Well now you can find out exactly how rich you are.

“Every year we gaze enviously at the lists of the richest people in world. Wondering what it would be like to have that sort of cash. But where would you sit on one of those lists? Here’s your chance to find out.”

Challenge your perception of wealth:

Global Rich List

How many hours does junk mail waste for you?

There are places to write and things to do to get you off some of those lists. But, it can be hard to make the time.

You can go to Green Dimes and they will get you off the junk mail and catalog lists. They will also plant a tree each month you are a member.

It’s $36.00 per year, which I don’t think is too much considering the time savings and the good impact on the environment. I’ll be waiting till June, however, due to the Spending Fast I’m on.

Why I Blog has been asked and answered by many bloggers lately. The Stubborn Capitalist (a great personal finance blogger) has tagged me to answer that question.

Why I Blog:

Teaching- My Mom and Grandma have both been teachers and I inherited the love of passing on information I learn. I get excited about a nugget of information I read about, experiment with, or discover and I want to share it.

Ingraining the information in myself- The more I write about something, the more it becomes ingrained in who I am. Making it easier to make the right choices.

Sharing growth – Sometimes I use the blog to document my progress in an area and get people to join me – like the 30 day spending fast. It’s always more fun to make a change with others as we support each other.

Writing is in my blood – I have been journaling offline and in recent years online. I can’t seem to help myself.

And now I will tag some people to let us know why they blog:

Ariane from Neat LivingÂ

Marcia from Take Charge of Your Life

Kim from Swingset Reflections

Jay from Juggling Sheep

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Today I am beginning a series on why it’s important to simplify your life. Often people have vague ideas that simplifying their life will make them less stressed and happier. But, without specifics “simplifying” never reaches high on the priority list.

Reason #1 to Simplify Your Life

Part of you that you could be sharing with the world is hidden under overwhelm and busyness. Maybe you have a dream that you want to help with the environment, but you can never make the time. Or you’d love to volunteer with kids, but where are you going to fit it in your schedule. Perhaps you’d love to light up a room with your humor, but you are so stressed nothing seems funny.

Or worse yet, you could be so busy, so scattered and running so fast you don’t even know what your gifts are. You don’t know what your passions are. You haven’t felt truly alive in a very long time.

The world doesn’t need another unhappy, overstresed martyr. The world needs vibrant, passionate, caring people.

By simplifying your life, you could create time to pursue your passions. Or uncover them. Even if you just simplify enough to be able to write an environmental letter to your congressman, you are starting to bloom. You will have a little more joy and aliveness.

And maybe that leads to some more simplifying to create room for volunteering every few months at an environmental group. Then you are volunteering regularly. Your life feels fulfilling.

What is one of your passions? Is it worth simplifying your life for?

Reason #2: You are in too much debt

“Everyone has inside of him a piece of good news. The good news is that you don’t know how great you can be! How much you can love! What you can accomplish! And what your potential is!” – Anne Frank

This is excellent news. And one I truly believe. You are all valuable and are needed in this world.