The Power of Community

?The Creative Coast?s blogspot is Savannah?s sounding board for local thinkers, innovators, wanderers and wonderers. Guest bloggers share their thoughts, opinions and creative noodling from all over the map. This week?s blog is from local digital designer and marketing engineer, Steven Scarborough (http://sdscarborough.com).? Read on for?Steven?s advice?regarding a contagion with potential worldwide impact?.

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A few weeks ago my wife?s grandmother passed-away and we made the drive to southern Alabama to visit with family. During the few days leading up to her services, family members paid their respects by bringing warm stories of ?Remember when??, condolences, and the occasional casserole. Boxes, and boxes, of family photos were sorted and shared. Everyone seemed to be doing well, considering.

I remained even-keeled through the services, and thought I would do so throughout the day, but I had yet to encounter the kindness of strangers. After the public service for friends in the community, we headed down the road in single file, with our headlights on, so members of the family could gather at a private burial service. In route, some people will slow down for you, less attentive drivers will cut in, not realizing they are entering a funeral procession.

What happened next completely astounded me as we made our way down the highway. Every passing car completely stopped. Not only did they come to a complete stop, but they pulled off the pavement onto the grassy shoulder. All of them. One driver even removed his hat. Police officers, parked at every intersection, directed traffic so everyone could stay together. After the service, we returned home to a kitchen overflowing with food, drinks, desserts, and sympathy cards. Those ?friends in the community? had pitched in and cooked us enough food to last several meals. Members of the city sanitation crew came by, on their day off mind you, offered their condolences and dropped off an extra bin, because they knew we?d have more trash than usual that week.

I admit, at first, this felt like the beginning of an eerie David Lynch film, as if this little Southern town had encountered too many funerals, but then this kindness from strangers hit me all at once. I started to think of my own family, my daughter, and my life kinda flashed before my eyes. I cannot really explain why, but their kindness really got to me and I instantly wanted to be nice to everyone. Kindness is contagious.

I may be an idealist, but I truly believe we are stronger when we come together. This is one of the things I love about The Creative Coast and the platform it gives the community to share ideas. Chances are, Jake and his team can point you in the direction of someone with similar aspirations, but it?s ultimately up to us, the community, to have the growth we want in Savannah.

Lend an ear, share your thoughts, and be kind to each other, it?s contagious.

Steven

Source: http://blog.thecreativecoast.org/the-power-of-community/2012/11/14

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