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8 SOLERA DIAMOND VALLEY | AUGUST 2019 4th of July in Solera Diamond Valley By Sherrie Chaparro, Resident Unlike the rest of America, our community doesn't run on Dunkin', we run on volunteers. We rely on community volunteers to serve on the Board, staff committees, and head up the clubs and groups which organize and provide different monthly activities. Along with the Lifestyle Department, volunteers aid in planning and assisting with each month's excellent entertainment. Without enough volunteers, all these activities would come to a screeching halt. Our community has been in existence for about 10 years, and many of us have lived here from the beginning. Most of the original residents are, or have been, very active in our thriving social atmosphere and perhaps are getting a little burnt out. It's time for new blood, new ideas, and a new generation to step up and volunteer. (Never thought that at 65 or thereabouts you would be referred to as a "new generation," did you?) We are inviting you to share the torch. Besides benefiting our community, you can benefit personally by volunteering, since it is good for your health. Numerous studies show physical, social, and cognitive improvements in volunteers. Compared with a control group, volunteers tend to walk more steps, be less depressed, find it easier to do everyday tasks, and have better thinking skills. Another intriguing potential benefit is that volunteering may give people a greater sense of purpose in life, which, after retirement, many of us may have lost. Findings from 10 different studies found that people with a high sense of purpose in life had a lower risk of dying from any cause, compared with people who had a lower sense of purpose. If you are concerned about the one- or two- year commitment required by committees or heading up a group or club, consider dipping your toes in the water by attending the Volunteers Group on the first Monday of the month at 1 pm in the Silverwood Room. These are the people who decorate the room, set out and serve potluck dishes, and clean up afterwards. You can volunteer for as many or as few events as you wish. Contact Harriet Brunner at (951) 765-0237 or hbrunner229@ gmail.com for additional information. So, what's holding you back? Volunteer, for your own benefit as well as your community's. The Importance of Volunteers

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