Has your desire to "do good" or volunteer changed after Katrina?

I would have to say that 9/11 changed me, and Katrina just reinforced that. Being in the medical field, I have always "helped others" in a way, but these disasters changed my way of thinking and reacting. After seeing the devastation and loss of these events, I find it much easier to let go of the trivial things in life that used to get me all wound up. It's easier not to sweat the small stuff. Nothing in my life has been as bad as what survivors of these disasters endured and are still living with- and hopefully I will never know that pain. I wanted so badly to volunteer in New Orleans or Mississippi (I'm a Nurse Practitioner)- several organizations were recruiting for help. But my employer would not let me go; If I had known that a year later they would lay me off, I would have quit and gone!! The next time we get 2 feet of snow and are a bit inconvenienced by backed-up traffic getting home, I hope that I can put it in the proper perspective and just pop in a good CD, take my time, and "not sweat it".