Thursday, July 21, 2022

COMMUNITIES

 


There is a proverb made popular by Hillary Clinton’s book, IT TAKES A VILLIAGE. The original goes like this:

"It takes a village to raise a child" is a proverb that means that an entire community of people must provide for and interact positively with children for those children to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment.

For thirty-five years, Nora has been the postmaster of Coldwell, when the USPS for thirty-five yeT The movie Colewell is described as "A lovely, quiet look at rural America and how Community is built. In this age of "Won't You Be My Neighbor?", Colewell delivers and shows us the neighborhood and the simple joys in everyday interactions at the local Post Office located in the home of Allen's character, Nora. The film asks and examines what happens when that local hub is threatened. It allows the viewer to watch as Nora struggles with the changes that are proposed as she examines how she came to be where she is today. Karen Allen gives an outstanding and honest performance.” (There is a link to this movie at the bottom of this post).


Another name for “village” is “community.” How many communities are you a member of? Community is comprised of:


  • Schools are one place where children socialize. I’ll be heading back to my hometown to commemorate a big reunion (I won’t say how big). We are heading there because of the connections of the community we made many years ago.

  • The church is a community we build lasting relationships and are united together for one purpose.

  • Clubs, like Optimist, Rotary, Bridge, etc. are a community centered on an activity.

  • Work is a place we spend a lot of time, so communities develop there.

  • Neighbors can become some of the closest of communities. I have two friends who were at my wedding. We call each other, the “Three Amigos.”

  • Spouses are a very important community we have. It may only involve two people, but this small group is often the most intimate.

  • Coffee shops have become America’s living room. People take their laptops, phones, and books with opportunities to develop relationships and develop new ones.

  • I’m sure you can name other communities.


Much like the older TV show, “Cheers,” this Boston bar became a community. Remember Norm walking in and everyone yells, “Norm.” They have their rituals. They always sit on their special stools at the bar, much like people in the church, exchanging a stool for a pew. We all need a place “...where everyone knows your name.” What communities know your name?


Lonely people don’t usually have much by way of communities. They become isolated and cut off. Sometimes it takes others to reach out to these people to begin to initiate community. Community building takes time. I can go into a coffee shop once or twice, and the regulars don’t know me. I have a neighbor who has a specialty blended drink, and when she walks into the door they start making it. She is called up by name, and her name is written on the cup.

So building communities takes time and some effort. The results are usually worth it.

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Please hit “comments” below to share about your communities and ideas on how to get them started. We would love to hear from you.

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Colewell, the movie: https://www.imdb.com/video/vi2803417881/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk HTTP://www.imdb.com/user/ur112090173/?ref_=tt_urver office, she must choose whether to relocate for a new position or face retirement in (Colewell. decides to close her office, she must choose whether to relocate for a new position or face retirement in Colewell. r thirty-five years, Nora has been the postmaster of Colewell, when the USPS decides to close her office, she must choose whether to relocate for a new position or face retirement in Colewell.

For thirty-five years, Nora has been the postmaster of Colewell, when the USPS decides to close her office, she must choose whether to relocate for a new position or face retirement in Colewell.