Coming Together During Difficult Times

There are unprecedented challenges that are facing us not only in our country but in our own community that we have never seen before.  There are questions that all of us have, answers that not many can produce, and anxiety that is everywhere in between.  There are several areas, locally, that are doing very good while there are others that are not doing good, at all.  The answer that is staring us straight in the face is that we should come together as a community and build each other up and not tear each other, or anyone one that we don’t know, down. 

As a community, we can come together and support each other in our own personal way.  I have talked in previous columns about shopping locally, having seminars that deal with a down economy, but I have not talked as much about a personal effort to see our community pull through this.  Some would say that this would be outside of the realm of economic development, and that it is outside of the scope of what I do here at the Chamber.  But what I believe about this is that consumer sentiment, or how you feel about the money you have (or don’t have) to spend, drives our overall economy and even our local economy.  Choosing to have a positive attitude is yours.  But by having a positive attitude, you can make very clear and very sound decisions.  By having a positive attitude, you will hopefully want to take a more active role in your community, and activities in your community.  By having a positive attitude, you can make a difference in a time where a difference is needed.

There are many aspects of our community that survive on philanthropic giving.  United Way, Big Brothers Big Sisters, John 3:16, and so many others.  Donations fund so many organizations in our community that do a lot to give back.  At a time like this in our country it is more difficult for us to give money that we want to save or not spend to organizations like this.  But that is counterproductive!  One of the biggest myths with businesses is when times get tough you tighten up and often times they tighten up on advertising.  Actually, you should cut others and increase your advertising!  The same goes for our community.  We need to continue and make an investment in our community through those organizations because what can not stop is our community from growing.  We can not let fear drive or create indecision, or worse, make us take steps backward towards the places we have worked so hard to come from.

Making investments in to our community is what will sustain us going forward.  Shopping locally will sustain us this holiday season and help our local community.  But so much of what we can do is what we do inside ourselves, and what we do so much of the time inside ourselves has a much greater impact sometimes than what we do outside of ourselves.  What we do in our communities, or what we don’t do, has a much larger price tag than we realize.  If we don’t keep doing what we do locally the impact of that is felt much more quickly than the trickle down from Washington DC.  There are ways that we can sustain ourselves locally and we do that by coming together as a community of friends ,neighbors, and co-workers.

I am reminded of a story when, in this country, there was a time that people after the great depression would share food, share all that they had, because they had nothing.  They had very, very little and people did all they could to help each other.  When they would slaughter a cow or pig for meat, they would share that with others.  When one would have excess in the garden, they would share that with others.  During one of the worst economic times, people came together and helped in ways that we can only hear about but for most of us have not experienced first hand. 

I have asked several people whom I respect and admire and have asked them what they see and how we will come out of this.  This is an economic downturn that we have never seen before, and one that they have not either.  There is no “economic” advice that will help any of us, comfort any of us, or relieve any of us.  But what I believe is that at this time of uncertainty, we can rely on each other and look to encourage and lift each other up in all that we do.  Whether you are at Church, at work, or at home, look to find ways that you can lift someone up out of their doldrums, and encourage them that this too shall pass.  Look for ways to be encouraging to others, to smile, give positive words of encouragement to someone who needs it.  Its contagious, and will spread to others and in some small way, maybe, and as a community we can build back our efforts while we build each other back up.