At Help-Full, we believe that everyone has superpowers, or ways to help other people. Sometimes the nice quality of modesty can cloud our vision when we are asked to think about something we have to offer, but knowing your strengths is a wonderful way to figure out how to help others. When you’re used to having a certain skill, it’s not always obvious what others may consider a superpower, though. We want you to know that you, too, have powers that people in your community will definitely appreciate. Even during this pandemic, there are plenty of valuable skills that you can share with your neighbors and new friends. Here are a couple of ways to find them:
Think about your day-to-day life
The first way to realize what skills you already possess is to think about some things you do on a daily basis. Consider what tasks are on your everyday to-do list, or what you like to do when you have some spare time. Some examples of things you might not immediately think of, but that others would be glad to have your help doing:
- Hobbies
Knitting, gardening, baking, photography, and other enjoyable activities you can do at home are quite in demand, especially with more of us spending lots of time in the house and looking for fun ways to pass the time. These pastimes are easy to teach via video chat, and are a nice way to bond with other members of the Help-Full community.
- Household Tasks
Are you a pro at cleaning your rain gutters, shoveling snow, or hanging holiday lights? What about raking leaves, mowing lawns, or organizing your garage? While they may seem like mundane tasks when you can easily take them on, many people would be relieved to have help with these physically demanding chores. These skills are also easily shareable during this time since they can be completed in a socially distanced environment.
- Languages
Have you spoken a second language all your life? You might not think much of it, but many people would be eager to learn from you. It’s always more fun to learn a language with another person to assist, and especially rewarding for you to see your “students’” progress. If you like the idea of teaching people your language or even helping them practice in conversation, you may have just found your built-in superpower! This is also a great activity for Zoom calls, so there’s no need to wait to share your knowledge.
Ask your friends and family
While you’re sure to come up with things you already do on a daily basis, you can also ask your family members and friends what skills they think you have. Sometimes we are too quick to dismiss our own abilities, and it helps to have others let you know what they see in you.
It’s also a great idea to check in with your loved ones to see what kinds of tasks they need help completing. They might help you come up with yet another skill you have! Perhaps you didn’t think of your ability to hang pictures on the wall, or to cook dinner, but these abilities can be very valuable to others.
If you can’t think of a specific skill
If there isn’t one thing in particular that jumps out at you, you can also consider simple ways to improve someone’s day. Perhaps you are an excellent listener who can lend an ear to another person’s stories, problems, or interesting thoughts. Join a new friend for a virtual visit and enjoy connecting for a while. Sometimes all it takes to make us feel better is to feel heard!
You might be good with children, and can read a book to a child via Zoom while harried parents have a little time to themselves. Maybe you’re a blast to play games with and you can play Pictionary or trivia games with kids while parents cook dinner or get some work done.
Whether you find your superpower by figuring out what you already do on a regular basis, through an idea from a loved one, or by thinking of ways to brighten someone’s day, the important things are that you recognize that you can be a hero to others and learn to appreciate your own abilities! Let us know what your superpowers are in the comments section- we would be happy to hear how you’ll contribute to the Help-Full community in 2021!
