By the time you read this, I will have reached my one-year anniversary with LifePath and I am so happy that I decided to join this amazing team of volunteers and staff last April. As national volunteer week has recently come to a close, we here at LifePath are so very grateful for our many volunteers that make such a positive difference with us each and every day. Our volunteers and staff work tirelessly in helping to deliver quality programs and services to our local neighbors, a special team of individuals that share a common focus in helping to improve the lives of those throughout our local communities and beyond.
Now my one-year snapshot is certainly no comparison to the longstanding, 50-year history of LifePath’s incredible journey, but in just my short time here, let me share with you some of the great things I have discovered along the way. Over the past year, I have had the privilege of talking with, learning from, and interacting with people as they share their stories, backgrounds, and experiences that all give a glimpse into what makes LifePath and our community so great.
Where throughout our lives, we were the ones being helped, now we have gradually shifted into the role of being the helper, coach, and mentor.
For example, stories from family members and caregivers on how LifePath has played a huge role in helping to make the lives of their loved ones a little better, connecting them to programs and resources that make a life-changing difference, are inspiring. It’s also the handwritten card from a new donor expressing their gratitude for LifePath’s efforts in the community with the encouraging words “thought this would help” that keeps things moving forward despite the ongoing financial uncertainties. These positive sentiments give us all hope and also remind us that despite our best efforts, we too, cannot do this alone.
Additionally, through my many quick conversations with people over the last year from various circles throughout our community, it has become abundantly clear that the Franklin County and the North Quabbin region is truly a very special place to live and work, possessing a creative resiliency and can-do attitude. As each of us shares in our quest to find ways to continue to collaborate with one another, we all look to try and maintain a certain quality of life for our local residents.
Someone recently asked me what makes LifePath so special? Collecting my thoughts for a moment and knowing that I could talk about the reasons for hours, I shared this: “As individuals and even as businesses, we are often faced with overwhelming challenges along the way. Challenges that were never meant to be faced alone. Just as LifePath has been a supportive partner for those in our community through compassionate care, while helping to identify viable options for caregivers and their loved ones in making informed choices that can positively affect their futures, we must also look for ways to be creatively resilient in the process as well. I think that’s one of LifePath’s major strengths—its ability to pivot and adapt over the years, while always staying true to our mission and our core programs. ”
Throughout our own lives, we have had that small handful of special people along our path who have made a positive impact on our journey. It could have been a next door neighbor, a teacher or coach, a close friend, or even a family member that came into our lives at the right moment and made all the difference. Each, in their own special way, encouraged us to grow, explore, and to take that courageous step forward in getting us to where we are today.
When LifePath was chartered back in September of 1974, I’m sure no one at the time had any idea that even 50 years later, we would still be providing important programs in support of older adults, individuals with disabilities, and their caregivers, after all this time. Yet, here we are because of the help that we received from so many individuals and community partners over the years. Those collective efforts from volunteers, staff, community partners, and civic leaders alike have made it possible for LifePath to be an active and impactful partner in our region.
It was never intended for any of us to face life’s challenges alone. As we reflect on the past, examine the present, and look to the future, we find that although life’s formulas over time may remain the same, our roles in their equation become different. You see, as we learn and grow, and open ourselves to new opportunities in the process, we discover that we all have the power to play an influential role in helping to support others. Where throughout our lives, we were the ones being helped, now we have gradually shifted into the role of being the helper, coach, and mentor. Making a positive difference in someone’s life can even have a beneficial impact on your own physical and emotional well-being in the process. This is a great added benefit as you help to support and encourage someone in your family, workplace, or even your local neighborhood.
As the saying goes, if you are looking to make a difference in the world, the answer might be as easy as looking right outside your window. Solutions to everyday challenges don’t have to be complex to make a big impact. Helping out in your neighborhood can work in a very similar fashion. Maybe someone in your neighborhood could use a ride to the pharmacy or to a doctor’s appointment. Perhaps someone down the street can’t quite make it on their own to the store to grab basic grocery essentials like milk, eggs, bread, etc., and could use a helping hand. This is where social connection and interaction with one another is so important. When you get to know your local neighbors and partners in the community, there’s no telling what can’t be accomplished by working together for a stronger, brighter future. As the path of the last 50 years has reminded us, it will be absolutely necessary for people to continue to band together to successfully overcome our challenges, as we embark on the next 50 years.
