Choices Shape The Future: How The Decisions We Make Affect Our Communities

I recently heard about a small town where the majority of independent businesses have closed as the residents are moving away due to lack of jobs. Included on the list of challenges facing this community is declining tax revenue, lack of events or activities, few dining or shopping options and dwindling membership in civic and local organizations. There are even now so few full-time residents in the town that for the first time in decades, the fire department may be forced to close down.

Is this what we want - and can the downward spiral be halted? More specifically, are we as humans still capable of (and willing to), observe such situations and then make a choice to flip our frame of mind? I often question if we still bother to look around and see what is taking place in our immediate area (or not taking place), and then rally accordingly; do we gather our neighbors, invite elected officials, meet with local leaders and hold a town hall discussion? Are there decisions which could be made to encourage the activity in a fading downtown or launch a campaign to breathe new life into the places we call home?

I can't help but think how we must now, more than ever before, strive to cast off the chains of apathy and fight the meek resignation with which many view such decline in our local economies. We COULD mobilize and brainstorm together; establish a committee to work at bringing back an event rooted in the history or culture of an area; discuss solutions instead of sitting by wringing hands and talking about "what used to be".


There's something else that would be needed, however; another ingredient which needs to be added in order to grow and move forward. It's the willingness to make changes and choices - to stand against the mainstream marketing campaigns which repeatedly show us families happily shopping together at walmart or receiving the staples of life in Amazon boxes. We'd need to make a new commitment to support Elliot's Hardware store, dine at The Circle Family Restaurant and shop with the independent retailers which are still here. We'd have to make decisions which impact where we live - right now, today - because the writing is on the wall; either we flip our mindset and once again put money into the community .... or if we stand by and allow it to fade away.

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