Contribution Name: Lions Befrienders
Pseudonym: Mary Ang
Year of Author: 1957
Retirement is a major milestone in life, providing seniors with the opportunity to pursue new interests, spend time with loved ones, or simply relax. However, for some, the transition to retirement can be challenging, leaving them feeling unfulfilled or without a sense of purpose. This is where volunteering can make a significant difference, opening doors to new experiences, skills, and relationships that can help seniors make their golden years more meaningful.
Mary Ang, 67 years old, a senior volunteer at Lions Befrienders’ Active Ageing Centre (AAC) Tampines 434, has been volunteering for the past nine years, and has gained more than she has given. After having a good life-long career in the sales industry, Mary retired at 59 years old and probably thought that she had gotten all the achievements she could possibly get in life. However, volunteering has allowed Mary to see herself in a completely new light.
Through her volunteering work, she has learned many new skills that gave her the confidence to step outside of her comfort zone, such as teaching weekly art classes at the AAC.
In addition, she shares how her volunteering experience has allowed her to rediscover herself and her potential. “I never thought I could ever draw [like how I am doing now]!” This realization has motivated her to learn more in her own free time as well. “Because of the seniors whom I conduct art classes for, it motivates me to go on to YouTube to learn [new handicraft],” she said.
More than new skills and experiences, Mary has also gained a more positive outlook on life, sharing, “Volunteering gives my life a lot of fun, and I became more cheerful.” She added that her family, particularly her son, has been very supportive of her volunteering work as they saw how much happier she became. This new transformation which Mary also saw in herself inspired her to bring volunteering beyond the AAC, leading her to help seniors with mobility issues, assisting in grocery shopping or household chores.
When asked about what is her motivation for volunteering, she shares a straightforward yet profound answer: “My satisfaction [from volunteering] comes from seeing the smiles of the seniors I serve. I don’t need anything else.” Seeing the happy faces of the LB seniors gives Mary such a strong sense of purpose that she has no plans to stop anytime soon. “I always tell myself that I want to volunteer until I can no longer walk.”
Mary’s story is a testament to the many benefits of volunteering, from learning new skills and making new friends to finding a new sense of purpose and fulfilment in life. She encourages everyone to try their hand at volunteering, saying, “Even if you have no time, you can still volunteer, even for just a day. Through volunteering, you can discover your talents and life [anew].”
退休是人生中的一个重要里程碑，给老年人提供了追求新兴趣、与亲人共度时光或单纯放松的机会。然而，对于一些人来说，退休的过渡期可能充满挑战，让他们感到缺乏成就感或失去目标。在这种情况下，志愿服务能够带来显著的变化，为老年人开启新的体验、技能和人际关系的大门，帮助他们让晚年生活变得更加有意义。
67岁的Mary Ang是乐龄之友位于淡滨尼434号的乐龄活动中心（AAC）的资深志愿者，她已经志愿服务了九年，并从中获得了比她付出的更多。在销售行业度过了辉煌的职业生涯后，Mary于59岁退休，或许她以为自己已经达到了人生的巅峰。然而，志愿服务让Mary看到了一个全新的自己。通过志愿服务，她学会了许多新技能，这些技能让她有信心走出舒适区，例如每周在AAC教授艺术课程。
Mary表示，志愿服务帮助她重新发现了自己和她的潜力。“我从未想过自己能像现在这样画画！”她说。这一发现激励她在空闲时间继续学习，“因为我要为乐龄人士教授艺术课，这激励我去YouTube学习新的手工艺。”
除了新技能和体验，Mary还拥有了更积极的生活态度。“志愿服务给我的生活带来了很多乐趣，我变得更加开朗。”她说。她的家人，特别是她的儿子，非常支持她的志愿服务工作，因为他们看到了她变得更加快乐。这一转变激励她将志愿服务扩展到AAC之外，帮助行动不便的老年人，协助他们购物或做家务。
当被问及她志愿服务的动机时，Mary给出了一个简单却深刻的回答：“我的满足感来自于看到我服务的老年人脸上的笑容，我不需要其他任何东西。”看到乐龄之友的老年人开心的面孔，给了Mary强烈的使命感，让她毫不打算停止志愿服务。“我总是告诉自己，直到我再也走不动时，我还会继续志愿服务。”她说道。
Mary的故事证明了志愿服务带来的多重好处——从学习新技能、结交新朋友，到找到新的生活目标和满足感。她鼓励每个人都去尝试做志愿者，“即使你没有时间，你也可以做志愿者，哪怕只有一天。通过志愿服务，你可以发现自己的才能和生活的全新意义。”
此故事转载自乐龄之友官网。如欲了解更多关于他们服务的信息，请访问 乐龄之友。
This story is reposted from Lions Befrienders website – Lions Befrienders Website
This heartwarming narrative comes from Lions Befrienders, an organisation dedicated to journey alongside seniors. To learn more about their services, visit Lions Befrienders Services.
This work includes translation generated by ChatGPT, an AI language model developed by OpenAI.
此作品包含由OpenAI开发的AI语言模型ChatGPT生成的翻译内容。