Mr. Funk E. Dude 🤷‍♂️Jan 6, 2023

I've talked about this before. It's something that you'll see me bring up over and over again.

If you are feeling aimless, a little depressed, and in need of grounding...

VOLUNTEER.

Find a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, a senior citizen center, a hospice, a charity, somewhere you can be in the service of others.

Something happens to us when we serve others. It takes us out of our heads. It centers us.

It just helps.

Trust me.

VOLUNTEER. Help yourself, by helping others.

Show threadJeanJan 6, 2023
@Mrfunkedude how do you recommend finding a spot to volunteer? I tried reaching out to a food bank and they never responded. I tried another organization and all their volunteer activities were more…political in ways I don’t want to participate in. I don’t have any friends local to me who volunteer anywhere. I would love to do something to help others but it seems I lack the social and community connections required to get started
Show threadf*cking b*tch clubJan 6, 2023

@voynich @Mrfunkedude
Other places to ask:
your local library—all kinds of things
your local schools (coaching sports, tutoring, all kinds of possibilities)
your local park. Begin by picking up litter once a week—bring your gloves and a huge trash bag, and make sure it gets properly disposed.

Once you start to think about possibilities for volunteering you’ll be surprised how many unmet needs there are.

Show threadZiptieZoeJan 6, 2023
@grammasaurus @voynich @Mrfunkedude
Yes...litter-pick! Helps you connect deeply to that which sustains us & opens you to new human connections too. For me personally...it has completely changed or enhanced my life in every facet...work, hobby, relationships, career, leisure, family, community, spirituality. Every facet! Mind blowing, heart expanding! But I guess all volunteer ops have the potential for that if you ..lean in 💞
Show threadf*cking b*tch clubJan 6, 2023

@ZiptieZoe @voynich @Mrfunkedude
I think the underlying idea is that “doing for others” is more gratifying than focusing on yourself.

My mantra is “just get out of the house. You’ll meet someone, you’ll have a new idea, you’ll try something new, but first you have to get. out. of. the. house!”

Show threadZiptieZoeJan 6, 2023
@grammasaurus @voynich @Mrfunkedude
Absolutely! Litterpicking is great for the shy, introverted, traumatised, quiet seeking, self-awaring, unsure what to do-ers or awaiting certifications etc etc though 😉
Show threadf*cking b*tch clubJan 7, 2023
@voynich @Mrfunkedude @ZiptieZoe
I often think of how far we’ve fallen away from Lady Bird Johnson’s call to “Beautify America”.
Sigh.
Show threadZiptieZoeJan 7, 2023
@grammasaurus @voynich @Mrfunkedude
yep. Over 30 yrs ago Clean Up Australia Day was established & every March it is held. Yet I have young ppl suggesting we have a national day for cleaning up! Ugghh! Schools use litterpicking as a punishment & reward instead of it being shared responsibility. And I recall a tv ad from 35 yrs ago about "Drop something sport, did ya did ya did ya..." 🎶.
Now no such discourse on personal or shared responsibility. All about the plastic & recycling market & economic opportunity. No custodianship that invites curiosity into the failings & greenwashing of the plastic & recycling market & economic pitfalls & facades. No custodianship full stop!
Show threadJudeNunga

@ZiptieZoe @grammasaurus @voynich @Mrfunkedude

Picking up litter is used by the local courts to punish people. It is also used by the local council as free slave labour for those who have to WFTD, (work for the dole is a scheme to force the unemployed to work for business and charities as unpaid labour, a punishment for being unemployed in Australia, if you don't comply, you have the pittance of "the dole" taken away).

If you are injured or die while being forced to "volunteer", there is no legal recourse for you or your family. This has happened several times over the last few years, and has destroyed people's lives.

I don't want to be a downer here, but we really need to look at what is happening in these businesses. If profitable businesses, or big religious businesses are built on free labour, there is something very rotten at it's core. Worse if they rely on those people who are scapegoats of society being forced to work for them by the government.

Feb 19, 2023 at 3:02amWeb
Show threadZiptieZoeFeb 20, 2023
@JudeNunga @grammasaurus @voynich @Mrfunkedude
Too right. .part of this economic imperative 🙄 & so blatant & brazen as to not even provide the same protections. So wrong! But I'm talk I ng about wilful custodianship. Caring for habitat. Not for basic income, not for expiation payment, not for anything but connection & caretaking. Those struggling may like to try it to see how it feels to connect to habitat. They may not be wanting to try. Both scenarios are fine. Forcing anyone to do it, for any reason, is the wrong path.