Show community some love

As seen in Katy Trail Weekly

Most of us love our community and want the best for it. It’s our home. It’s where we live, work, learn, play and raise our families. And yet, it’s easy to go about our daily lives without ever stopping to think, “What can I do to make my community better?”

We are all busy and it’s easy to assume that someone else will do what needs doing. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from my work with communities across the U.S., we are all owners. We don’t need an official title, be assigned a task or have to be wealthy. We all have gifts to share and the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.

My dream is that every citizen would do just one small thing to make their community better. We all know that random acts of kindness have positive ripple effects that reach far and wide, often unexpectedly so. Could you imagine the amazing results if everyone took part in a mass outpouring of love and positivity?

Start by taking a slow drive around the city. What do you see that needs to be repaired or replaced? Is there a field that needs to be mowed? Does a city park need some shade trees? Do flowers need to be planted? Is there an empty lot that needs trash hauled away or a dangerous road in need of a crosswalk?

Consider what resources you have at your disposal. Maybe you have the skills or the funding to fix something or know someone who does. There are always potential reasons why something “can’t” be done, but it’s often amazing what can happen when we just ask.

Maybe your way of showing your community some love is to serve on a local board, head up a “housing for the homeless” committee or to spend a day at your local food pantry or animal shelter. It helps and may inspire you to get involved on a deeper level.

You don’t have to join an organized effort. Individual acts of love and kindness are meaningful, like cleaning up a cluttered yard or place a bench under a tree at the park.

Put your skill set to use. Could you train entrepreneurs to better manage their finances or market themselves? Mentor someone inside your company? Tutor students who are struggling? Think broad and then narrow your scope.

Finally, we can all express our gratitude for what’s right in our community. We can write a letter to the editor who celebrates the bright spots in our community. We can send a heartfelt thank-you note to the hospital that took care of our loved one. We can thank a maintenance worker for keeping the streets clean.

Positivity and gratitude are contagious. They make a difference. And it feels good to practice them.