Do you know the saying that giving is receiving? Well, so is Christian. In fact, it’s the principle that guides his volunteer commitment to Little Brothers, a mission he’s been embracing for a year now.
“My Great Friends give me a lot, too,” he says.
For him, volunteering is a simple way of expressing his gratitude for life and nurturing one of the most precious things of all: human bonds.
A generous man by nature, he is accustomed to devoting time to the causes that are dear to him. He admits, however, to having a particular affinity with the mission of Little Brothers.
“The loneliness of seniors is an important social phenomenon right now. Many of them have grown up surrounded by 5, 10 or 12 brothers and sisters. Sometimes they get so bored that they just wait for God to come and get them. I take care of them and I know I’m doing them good.
And it’s good for him too. “Loneliness is something I’ve experienced. Spending quality time with my two Great Friends is a way of repairing that, in a way. We talk, we play chess. Through my presence, I hope to soften their daily lives a little.”
Their daily lives, and vacation moments too. Like many other Little Brothers volunteers, Christian takes part in summer holidays organized by the Domaine Juliette-Huot for isolated seniors. These are precious moments during which real connections are forged.
“It’s wonderful to see the complicity between the people there. Every time I meet these people again at the community meals, the energy between us is different. Beyond the experience itself, it’s the intention behind it and the fact that we feel we really want to do them good, that touches them so much.”
You have to try it to find out,” he replies. “It’s good to think, but there’s no such thing as doing. That’s the secret.”
“People often think that generosity is giving without receiving anything in return, but I like to find meaning in my gestures, and I find a lot of it in the support I offer. It nourishes me, and so much the better: by giving a little of myself, I receive so much more in return! That’s what fuels my commitment.
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