People who need people are the luckiest people in the world

Last week end I attended the local Fingerling Festival. This is where the salmon hatchery does a release of hundreds of salmon fingerlings into the inlet which feeds into the ocean. I felt very honored to take part in releasing some of these very small creatures, many of whom may not have made it past the herons that sit and feed on the shore of the inlet. 


But what struck me about this event was the sense of community. There were hundreds of people  who donate their time for dozens of organizations  to keep my community green, safe and viable. It got me thinking how difficult it can be to find that community feeling when living in a large urban area. There are many people who feel lonely, even when they are surrounded by thousands of other people. I started to think about what it takes to make a community and to me it came down to giving and receiving.


We are social beings and feeling connected is important. Sometimes that connection can be as simple as getting together with neighbors or even saying hello to someone walking down the street. It can be more involved and include volunteering or making an effort to recycle. But as important as it is to give, I think we also need to feel we are receiving. We receive when we notice the natural beauty of where we live, when we feel supported by friends and neighbors and when celebrate the various roles we all play in our communities.


Ask yourself how do you give, but more importantly, how can you receive from your own community.


People who need people are very lucky indeed.