today my friend marilyn the shelter vet and i were discussing our next trip, and it got me to thinking about why people like to volunteer. not only do we opt to work for free and cover our own expenses, we're often willing to pay an extra fee to the group we're helping out. are we martyrs? animal lovers? looking for a life less ordinary? or, as marilyn's son puts it, just "do-gooders"? maybe a little of all. ultimately--at least for me--it's self-serving, because knowing i played a part in bettering a life feels pretty sweet. and of course how totally cool it is to make friends with a monkey?!
"Altruism is selfishness out with a pair of field glasses and imagination." - Christina Stead
the boys love summer
seriously? i don't know how my eyes don't burn out of my skull every day when i wake up to this.
