Love thy neighborhood

Every new job comes with the expectation of a steep learning curve. The new mayor position is no exception. As with any new job, the initial reality is not what the original expectation was. While city business and community service is paramount, one aspect of this position surprises me.

There are days it seems city hall is a receptacle for complaints. Even though every complaint has an element of validity, the scope and content seem unnecessary in a small community such as ours. There are the expected complaints of neighbors against neighbors, be it barking dogs, fences, limbs, snow removal or the current state of the streets.

Some folks find it necessary to spend their waking hours perusing the neighborhood finding fault with other bothersome issues, which compels them to report such atrocities to city hall.

The winter months have been rich with stories of snow and snow removal issues from slick sidewalks and leaky roofs to unmanageable berms. With spring inevitably approaching those stories of weather hazards involving the white stuff will diminish and eventually turn into spring and summertime issues.

Snow laden tree limbs will give way to new growth that will thoughtlessly cross property lines. Vehicles, RVs and even wheelbarrows located in the wrong place or facing the wrong direction will perturb folks into action to protect their peace and well being.

Those vehicles, rudely leaking unmentionable fluids onto the street, and generally blocking the view from a picture window will prevent one from witnessing the unpardonable sins being committed by their neighbor across the street. (“I told you I never trusted them!”).

Americans are renowned as the most giving people in the world. Our generosity is unmatched by anyone. Every world disaster is responded to immediately with nearly unlimited financial aid and professionals determined to assist victims in returning to quality lives.

Time and again Americans respond to war, natural disasters and poverty. When others are in need we share our tremendous affluence to make others’ lives a little better.

Obviously this nature extends to our personal lives and community. Our great fortune from living in a small community drives us to be generous and care about one another at a level few other cultures enjoy. Criticism and gossip are a part of life but tolerance is preferable. There are always things in life we don’t like or people we don’t agree with. I suggest we focus on solutions.

Look around at your neighbors. Everyone shares the same concerns, wants and fears. We all cherish the peace and privacy a small town provides. Sometimes simply talking to one another helps find that common ground. We begin to realize folks are not so bad after all. It’s natural to assume they think differently and their intentions are not as honorable as our own.

The more we communicate with one another the more we realize we’re the same. It’s those similarities I ask everyone to seek out, and try to build relationships. After all is said and done what really matters in life is what we give each other.