Feelings about Volunteering

[ZeldaFighter]

I volunteered for a community group for many years after being a customer for several years before that. For a few years, i was virtually running it on my own, desperately begging for volunteers.

I finally managed to hand over to someone else and move on. The group is seeming to go from strength to strength - I'm pleased but I keep feeling sad that I'm not wanted anymore and that it's all changed and now "better" than when I led it.

I feel like a grumpy retired steel worker 🤣 please help me give my head a wobble (a gentle wobble, it's been an emotional week!)

You built the foundations and put the work in so that it was in a position to be taken over. You should be proud of all that you have achieved.
It’s understandable to feel emotional about it but try to reflect on the success and enjoy your free time. Well done.

Without your determination to keep things going it would have collapsed and not exist any more.

As above it's an easier process to improve once the grunt work has been done.
Any volunteering is worth doing
I love mine and wouldn't want to be without it.

I ran a group and handed it over to someone else who then discovered it involved more effort than they had time for and it ended up closing, ending a group that lots of people relied on.

I felt really sad.

So be happy it is thriving. I always wish I found the right person to take the group over.

100% this. Well done OP, you should be so proud.

Bless you, that's such a lovely take, thank you for your kind words. I will try to focus on this, thank you

I agree with Rufus that any volunteer work is worth doing and should be commended. It sounds like you got a lot of meaning and purpose from the group both as customer and supplier.. what’s replaced that for you?

Thank you, that's very kind. I will try to do that x

You put it in a position where it could be handed on. When I stopped running something where I used to live when I was leaving the country, no one would take it on and it closed down. It felt like a terrible waste. Feel proud!

Aw no, that is so sad. Yes, I am and should be happy (just a bit mardy) that the group is doing well 😊

Came here to say similar - husband and I ran the Scout Christmas Fair every year then it got too much plus our children had moved on. We told the whole group that it would be the last we could take on and nobody stepped in, there never was another.
OP you kept the group running all those years!

Thank you, again that is so sad and I am feeling more grateful that it's still running.

Just the other day I was thinking about the people that volunteer and give up their time to help others in their local community and beyond.

I figured out there was 3 types of people - those that give their time, those that don't and those that complain about those who do.

It will always be a thankless task. The main thing is that along the way you actually did help the people/cause you worked for free to support.

Just wanted to appreciate the reference to the grumpy retired steel worker, as I am married to one!