How to give yourself a quick boost of self esteem.

It's actually quite easy. Volunteer! Yes, that's all you have to do. Volunteer your time by fixing a meal for a new Mom, pick up the phone and call someone who is ill, babysit for a couple who could use a night out on the town together, or head over to your local homeless shelter and ask how they can use you.
It is a great way to lend a helping hand and you will feel so much better after you are done.

I started volunteering my time at a local homeless shelter a couple of years ago.
I held monthly jewelry making classes for the women who resided there.
I received several generous donations from friends, family, and complete strangers who wanted to donate money and beading supplies.
Most of the jewelry we make is fairly simple. We mostly make string beaded earrings and necklaces.


I had been out of the game for a while since the birth of my son, but I started jewelry classes at the shelter again this past week and it was wonderful!

I met several fantastic women who were eager to try their hands at a new craft.
One of the most interesting women I met was named, "Annie". She was very familiar with jewelry making. She told me that she knows how to make jewelry and when she lost her home (due to foreclosure, I'm guessing) she had to sell most of her jewelry supplies to help her out financially.
Half way through the class, she had an idea on how to improve on the bracelet she was currently making. She ran up to her dorm room and came back with a garbage bag full of beading supplies. She must have had at least 10 lbs. of beads in that bag! She proceeded to pull out her supplies and she was more than willing to share her beads with the rest of the women, if they chose to.
She then told me a story about when she was a child in school. Her Teacher used to give out beads for good behavior, and good grades. Her teacher taught her how to macrame and used the beads in her weaving.
"Annie" told me that ever since she was a child, she always felt rich if she had beads with her.
She got a huge smile on her face and said, "Look at me now. My beads are all I have left, but I'm rich".

There was another gal in the class who wasn't more than 8 years old. She was so excited to make her own bracelet, she gathered up a hand full of beads and carefully carried them to her table to start designing her bracelet. Her eyes lit up when she rummaged through the supply of beads. When all was said and done, she had made four bracelets. When I asked her if she was planning on sharing her bracelets with her Mom, she just kept talking about how pretty the bracelets were and how all the colors matched her shirt. Her Mom just rolled her eyes at me, I'm guessing the answer was "No".

It was a great time and I plan to go back again next month. So get out there and volunteer! I promise you, you'll feel spectacular!
If you'd like to read more about the shelter, please click here: The Shade Tree.

I am running out of beading supplies, if you'd like to make a donation, simply click on the Donate button on the upper left hand corner of my blog.
You will be helping out with a great cause.
Thank you!








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Names have been changed to protect identity.