A new sense of purpose

As a retired person living alone, I find the time I spend volunteering a good way to interact with new people and give myself a sense of purpose. 

I meet with Tommy every Friday morning. He is always keen to get out and about. Generally we take a stroll to the local park, or to the Botanic Gardens, a beautiful oasis filled with all kinds of plants and flowers in the west end of Glasgow.  

Tommy is naturally a buoyant, good-humoured man and his company is a pleasure. He not only elevates my mood but also has a tangibly positive effect on many of the people we meet in town. He doesn’t communicate verbally so it's necessary to focus intently on his demeanour and behaviour to try and get a sense of how he feels and what he’s trying to express.

This process of concentrating fully on Tommy is, I find, beneficial to me. It gives me a much-needed sense of perspective and dilutes any anxieties which may have been occupying me before our time together. It helps me slow down and become more present. I become focused, aware and appreciative of the sensory stimulations we are encountering; the wind in our faces, the sun on our skin.

But above all, time spent with Tommy is a good laugh, as well as mentally refreshing.