Creativity and Volunteerism

I believe that we are all part of a whole. I am hardwired to live and breathe this as a way of life. Therefore, by helping others, I inherently help myself. So I strive on a daily basis to do whatever I can. And sometimes this is a good thing, I like to think it is anyway.
However, last week was nuts. The volunteer organization I belong to needed a place to host an area speech contest, and this is a BIG Island. There was talk of a potluck on the other side of the island, which meant I would have to prepare food and make a 200 mile round trip. So I offered to contact a nice restaurant in the middle of the island to see if they would allow us to use their conference room if we bought lunch. Everyone was thrilled with the idea, and the restaurant was happy to oblige. It seemed like such a good thing!
And then the restaurant needed a quota, so I had to round up people and get commitments, and then collect payment from them to make sure they would come. And then convince non-members to attend the event because we needed more people. And then collect from them. And even offer to drive them to make sure they would still go, and then explain the purpose of the whole event to them...
The entire episode blew up in my face when my friend who I had already agreed to carpool with wanted to go to the beach after the event and I said I'd have to check with the other two people and I really didn't have a way to get ahold of them so I'd have to contact another person and hopefully be able to get back to her...
And then I realized going to the beach with four people would be alot of preparation. It would mean cleaning out the trunk so there would be room for everybody's beach gear, and probably another food stop, not to mention the coordinating.
Then what happened? I got a lecture for trying to be too nice. My boyfriend says I need to pretend I'm in the military and not volunteer for anything! Maybe he's right. He never volunteers for anything.
But guess what. The world would be a pretty unhappy place if nobody volunteered or helped one another out. He's worried I'll run out of time and not have any left for him...
What's my point? I guess that by volunteering and juggling all this stuff and trying to help others in any way that I can, I am fulfilling my purpose as a human being. And from this point, creativity emerges. And my soul is happy. Frustrated and exhausted perhaps, but happy.
I used to believe that I had to be sad and miserable to paint. So many artists are, and for years I was. But I don't believe that I need to be unhappy to be creative, I just need to somehow tap into my creative spirit. And by doing my best to make things better, even if I do push myself to the edge sometimes trying, I unlock those elements within that allow me to express who I truly am. You can see it in my work.