Helping others is the best thing you can do in retirement
Warren Gray has played golf most of his life but finds getting out on the traditional long course, just that little bit too hard nowadays. He now plays the Pitch and Putt version of golf and loves it.
I would like to let other Over60 readers know that, helping others can be so rewarding. My passion is golf and over the years I have gotten to know a group of golfers from the Special Olympics (SO). The SO movement is for athletes with an intellectual disability and in golf, are a group that seem to be forgotten. I have volunteered to help this group whenever and wherever I can and one of the things I do is organise an annual event where my Pitch & Putt (P&P) club pair up with a SO golfer in a foursome format event. Now the event is played purely for fun but also to let the SO athletes/golfers know, there are people out there outside of their immediate family/friends/carers who also want them to feel inclusive and acknowledged.
Well our latest event was held on Sunday September 10. Perfect weather for golf and a bit of fun. All I can say is that while walking around the course, I could hear lots of laughter, a lot of oohs and aahs from near missed shots and many high fives for a good shot. Mind you, the SO golfers weren't backward in letting their P&P partners know when we didn't play one of our better shots. I believe the event was a huge success and we achieved all our aims of making this a good day for the SO golfers. At the end prizes were awarded to the SO golfers and the converted and much sort after Gold/Silver/Bronze medals were won.
Now what is the point of this article? I just want to encourage other readers who have a skill or an ability to think seriously about sharing it with others. It doesn't have to be the Special Olympics but I can recommend them as a lovely, funny and thoughtful group of people you will get a lot of enjoyment and a sense of fulfillment from helping. It doesn't have to be golf either, other sports or activities they do include athletics, swimming, bocce, tennis, sailing and a few others.
If you want to know more go to the Special Olympics Australia website. Even if you belong to a walking group, see if there is someone else in your area that might not know and would love to join in. If you are good or have a skill in one of these sports have a look in your local area and see if the SO movement is there. Go along, have a look and chat to someone about helping or volunteering. I know you won't be disappointed.
If you do go down this track I know, like me, you will be filled with a sense of satisfaction that you have help even one person in some small way. Your life will be enriched. You will have a reason to get out of the house and get a bit exercise and, you can have so much fun and achieve a level of joy that is hard to match (except from your own grandkids!).