I have asked myself what motivates or inspires people to dedicate their time to sharing knowledge and awareness about osteoporosis and bone health.
I am 21 years old and, to be honest, while I love to volunteer, help others, and especially explore, I have not spent one moment of my life worrying about osteoporosis. So I am curious. What is it that leads people to not only take the time to educate themselves, but take the initiative to educate others?
When I think of this for myself my answers are 1) a deep understanding of the necessity of supporting the cause and a logical connection to the good of my community, 2) a sense of appreciation from those that I am helping, 3) the connections I build with the people I work with (i.e. how welcome I feel, how engaged I feel, how much I feel that I am a necessary part of the group), and/or 4) the satisfaction of helping someone with a problem to which I feel personally connected.
Osteoporosis is a disease that affects millions of Americans, and there are so many who are passionate about helping fight it. Understanding what motivates people to take on a cause like bone health and what makes an effective volunteer program will enable them to do so. I will be thinking about volunteerism and welcome your thoughts, philosophy, and practical advice.
