Photo by My Life Through A Lens
When we look at America on the national level, it’s clear we have some issues. Politically, we are incredibly polarized. There’s a lot of discontent and disagreement. But zoom in on the local level—where life happens—and you’ll see we have more bright spots than dark clouds.
I’m fortunate to have explored dozens of small and mid-sized communities across America. I’ve talked with hundreds, maybe thousands, of mayors, chamber of commerce members, new entrepreneurs, business owners, and citizens of all ages. I’ve sat down to great meals in downtown restaurants, listened to fabulous bands, and attended some of the world’s coolest festivals. And what I’ve found is that the America one sees “up close and personal” bears little resemblance to the America one sees on the national news.
Every day, as I work to help communities revitalize themselves, I see what our country is made of. I see people partnering with their neighbors to solve problems, working hard and playing hard, listening and compromising, and—quite often—making sacrifices for the good of others. Locally is where we’re at our very best. No wonder communities are making a comeback!
We once formed communities because we knew we needed each other. As I once heard someone say, history is just a series of different human combinations. Then, somewhere along the way, we forgot that essential truth. Now we’re seeing that just because we can have literally everything delivered to our doorstep, it just doesn’t feel good to be so disconnected. We’re back to believing we need each other again. (As it so often does, history is circling back around.)
In Thomas L. Friedman’s book Thank You for Being Late: An Optimist’s Guide to Thriving in the Age of Accelerations, he talks about how rapid accelerations in technology, globalization, and Mother Nature are disrupting our lives and leaving people feeling destabilized. He says these forces are like a hurricane, one in which the winds of change are swirling so fast that families can’t find a way to anchor themselves.
Friedman makes the case that the only answer is building healthy communities, ones that are flexible enough to navigate this hurricane and provide stability for the citizens within them. He quotes the words from a ballad by Brandi Carlile, “You can dance in a hurricane, but only if you’re standing in the eye.” Our communities are that eye. They provide a firm place to stand and find stability while all this change is swirling around us. Read more
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