I started volunteering for an old lady but I think she helps me more than I help her

I (25F) saw a post on facebook from a local group that matches volunteers to people who need help. I wasn’t in that group, it somehow ended up on my page.

Out of curiosity I read some of the comments. One of them was from an 80 yo woman. Her husband recently went to live in a nursing home. She stated that she needed help with buying new clothes, since she used to do that with her husband, and that she would just really like to meet up for coffee sometimes.

I don’t know why, but somehow I felt a need to message her.

So I wrote her some information about myself and what I do in my daily life, that we are from the same city and that I would like to help her.

She messaged me back and we agreed to a phone call first to see if we clicked. We instantly hit it off and were on the phone for about an hour. Shortly after we met up and it was great.

This all started in September and we see each other about once a week

Most of the time we just chat. Sometimes we go shopping and other times we go out for lunch.

To be honest Im still a bit lost in life. On the outside everything seems fine. I have a job, a car and im able to rent an apartment by myself. But I still struggle with social aspects and some unresolved trauma from my childhood.

Turns out…she is a retired therapist. We talk to each other about everything and she really gave me some great insights on myself.

Whenever I go over there, we can chat for hours and not even notice the time passing.

She tells me often how much my help means to her, but I really think she helps me more than I help her.

It may sound strange but I consider her a close friend now. Not at all what I expected when I first messaged her. But I am so glad I did.