Fall In Love With Your Community….Again

It’s Valentine’s Day, so writing something about love is apropos. When I first started writing this post, it started off as a “how to show love to your community” type of post. But in a way, we are constantly showing our love to our communities by doing the things discussed regularly on this blog. Sometimes you need a little energy boost. Sometimes you just need to fall in love with your community….again.

Here are some ideas on how to do just that:

Have a Cup of Coffee

For those with a restaurant/bakery with seating out in front of the building, this one is easy. For others, you might need to pick a park bench or a picnic table. Then grab yourself a cup of joe or whatever drink you prefer and sit down. Then simply take it all in. Many of us are so tangled up in the daily grind that we don’t sit back and just watch.

But don’t get tangled up in the need to fix that heaving sidewalk that you notice. Don’t fret over how the business across the street badly needs a coat of paint. Just enjoy. Watch how people look at the recent facade improvements to one of the downtown buildings. Listen to the giggles of children playing on a recently refurbished playset in a park. We don’t spend enough time just enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Z’otz cafe, Infrogmation of New Orleans, CC-BY-SA-4.0

Get Involved in a Community Event

For some of you, this may not be optional. You’re thrust into being a part of every event the community has. But take a minute from overseeing the parade route to turn around and take in those who are watching the event. Take a break for a couple of minutes during the pancake feed to observe the hard work of everyone else on the serving line.

Sometimes we get too caught up in the “event” part of “community event” to enjoy the “community”.

Go Forth and Explore

There are many areas that we visit throughout town on a daily basis. But even in the smaller towns there are still little nooks and crannies that you’ve rarely been to or haven’t been to in a while. Sometimes it may even be just a residential street that you haven’t been down in a while.

You can even explore local businesses. A local manufacturing plant manager may be more than happy to give you a tour of their facility.

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There are a number of things you can do to reignite your love for your community. Each Valentine’s Day there are many millions of roses purchased. But when’s the last time you stopped to smell the roses growing just down the street?