Feel less guilty gals

Research has now documented what most women have known for years. The fact that “habitual guilt [by which they mean a kind of internalized feeling of guilt] was more intense in women than in men in all three age groups studied.”

Over the years, casual conversations with other mothers indicate we always put our families first. Whether it is scheduling events, purchasing clothes, or sometimes even the movie we see. We’ll bring our lunch to work for multiple days so we can register the kids for baseball or gymnastics. Some even forego career moves.

Yet research mentioned in my last blog pointed out, we women are more likely to volunteer to help through community service organizations.

SITK has just made a very progressive move to help recruit new members. New members can prepay their annual dues for Soroptimist. By prepaying, the amount paid per month induces less guilt about spending money on ourselves. It lets us feel good about helping other women and girls as part of a group – we know the power of one multiplies when we bundle that energy as a unit. Plus it’s fun to work on projects together! For details on the prepay plan, email sitkclub@aol.com .

As always, to keep up with SITK become a fan on Facebook. We’ll be looking for you at Google’s St. Pat’s parade!

Friendships and volunteering lengthen life

At last month’s business meeting, SITK members returned their completed talent survey forms. The results supplied the club with a list of talents we each posses so we can proceed to help with the DiscoverME workshops and future community service projects.

The survey process wandered like a vine in my brain. What if there was a survey of why members join Soroptimist? What if we knew what members thought were the benefits? Is there a similar thread?

My musings got serious fertilizer when I read about two recent studies showing how you can live a longer healthier life.

An American Geriatrics Society (AGS) study showed that volunteers had less than half the risk of death than their non-volunteer peers. The study, including over 6,300 people, controlled data to account for demographics, socioeconomic status, chronic health conditions, etc. Only 12% of volunteers in the study died during the study’s timeframe compared to 26% who did not volunteer.

SITK members voluntarily give back to our community working on our service projects. We’ve known how good it makes us feel to give back. We contribute to the betterment of our community, the world, and our own lives.

Earlier this year, an Australian study had substantiated the importance of friendship and social networks. A similar Harvard report showed strong social ties promote brain health. A note from the article said that friendship has ‘an even greater effect on health than a spouse or family member.’ SITK provides women an great opportunity to develop friendships and expand our social networks.

With healthcare being such a hot topic, you can now let all other women how you’ve discovered a secret to longevity – Joining Soroptimist.