Volunteer spotlight – Heather Rodriguez “I am so selfish”

Howdy! Happy to have you here. I have been trying to get these words out of my head for a while.  One of the questions I am asked most often when people find out I am Board member and volunteer at GiGi’s Playhouse is “oh that’s so nice, do you have a relative with Down syndrome? How are you connected? Why?”  I find myself thinking about these question a lot, the answers have changed over the last three years.  The simple answer is “No, in 2012 when GiGi’s Playhouse Syracuse opened I had no connection to the Down syndrome community.” That has changed.  Three years later I am fully immersed into a community that has filled my heart with all the good feels, has challenged me to be better, dream bigger and be brave when I did not want to be.

November 2012, GiGi’s Playhouse had been open just a few days when I heard about it. I had been trying to find a way to give back to my community, all I knew at that time was I had a camera and maybe some pictures would be helpful. I was invited to come to Open Play.  Oh goodness I was so nervous! Would I say the wrong thing, would people think I was being patronizing? I was the outsider here, I was the one who didn’t belong.  I put on a big fake smile and walked in, that fake smile quickly melted away, replaced by a smile that went much deeper than my face.  I could feel the good here. Little friends welcomed me to play and gave hugs that would melt the coldest of hearts. I listened as parents spoke of the struggles they were facing and saw how this community was so good at building each other up and offering support. I was drawn in and accepted. I was allowed to ask questions but most importantly in those first few months I learned that #morealikethandifferent is not just a catch phrase, it is 100% truth. Life is life. Messy, hard, fabulous, joyful….. what we choose to make of it. Down syndrome did not change that truth. Sure there may some different twists in the road but really when we  finally accept that different does not equal bad the stuff of life becomes bearable.

As time went on, I made real friends, friends that encourage me and remind me to never give up! Friends who are my teachers.

I have fallen in love with kids that I will spend the rest of my life going to bat for. These kiddos fill me to the brim with sweet hugs, sloppy kisses and snuggles galore! I am the luckiest.

The  “Why” question has become very easy to answer.  This is a two part answer. One, I am so selfish! I mean seriously look at the people who fill my life! I get way more out of this life than I will ever be able to give. I am a junkie for this good stuff. Secondly, we belong to each other. Wherever you are in this world your fellow human’s need you and you need them. When we keep ourself in a place where we are  comfortable, only with people exactly like us we miss out on so much! Life is rich when we go beyond our own understanding, our own “normal” and take in all the beautiful difference’s the world has to offer.

Volunteering a GiGi’s Playhouse opened up a big beautiful world to me. Friends across the country, a network of people who have the same passion and vision. Who are using their gifts and talents to change the way the world views individuals with Down syndrome.  I can not image what today would look like if I did not open that door three years ago with my scared fake smile and walk in. Thankful I do not have to find out.

A highlight of 2015 for me was traveling to Chicago with my fellow board members and our fabulous site coordinator to attend the National Conference. This weekend is full of sharing, learning and fun! Connecting with our fellow Playhouse peeps from around the country and Mexico. Learning what is working and what is not so that we can continue to grow and serve our communities better. Imagine my surprise as I sat in a room of really outstanding people and was awarded with the National Volunteer of the Year award.  It took a second to hit, it had to be a mistake, I was really in a room full of people who deserved this! Then I looked up and saw my friend’s Christine and Nancy and the gratitude that filled me in that moment has been hard to put into words. Nancy Gianni is a mom, a mom who loves so good and so big she determined to create a place of her beautiful & strong daughter, then is grew and is now taking over the nation. Christine is a friend I do not get to see as much as I would like but this young woman makes me laugh, encourages me, teaches me how to flirt better (seriously she is so good at it!) wows me with her art work and believes in me. These woman would have never been in my life and cheering me on if I did not take that first step into the Playhouse. I do not volunteer for awards, none of us do, as much as I have joked about being Volunteer of the Year with my fellow board members, I know it is that we have an amazing TEAM. We are strong, together. No one person can make GiGi’s great. This plaque with art work from friends means a great deal to me.  I am forever grateful to be accepted into this community and work besides smart, hardworking, different thinking individuals.

I am excited to see what 2016 has in store for us all! I want to see new people join us and learn how they can use their time talents and treasures to help.  I would like to invite all of you to our first  Volunteer Orientation of  2016 on January 23rd at 6pm.  Come find out more about GiGi’s Playhouse and how you can be involved in a fabulous 2016! Help us prepare by RSVPing 🙂

xoxo Heather Rodriguez

#gigisbelieves #generationG

educate.inspire.believe