Make 2017 better: Help community, stay informed

2016 was quite a year. It was filled with great drama, far too much violence and more personal animosity than we are accustomed to — and that’s just in the public arena, not even taking into consideration our personal lives.

2017 will be better, or at least that’s our mantra as we watch 2016 draw to a close.

But a better year doesn’t just happen by accident; we have to be pro-active to make it happen. Since few, if any, of us have a direct line to the White House or Congress, there is very little we can do that will change things on a national level.

Maybe, though, by working to make things better on a local level, we can begin building the foundation for making things better nationally. We can hope there are others throughout the country doing the same thing, trying to change the things we can change.

Locally, there is much that can be done. As great as our communities are, there are always ways to make them better.

When we saw Christmas lights this year that neighbors, as a group, had done together, making a really impressive display, we were amazed. It made us think that those neighbors were acquainted, were willing to contribute to a neighborhood project and probably had fun, made friends and pleased the rest of the community at the same time.

And, as 2016 becomes 2017, those same neighbors will keep an eye on each other and each other’s houses, will keep up with what’s going on in each other’s lives and be available in times of need. Even without using our rose-colored glasses, that’s the way true neighborhoods get built and people become friends. And, each of us, in our own way, can work to make our neighborhoods more neighborly and create a safe zone on our own street with friends keeping an eye on friends.

We can do other things as well. There are children who can benefit from tutoring, there are families that need food, there are senior citizens who would love to have someone to play checkers with, there are dogs that need walking. We can do little things to alleviate some problems. We can look for volunteer opportunities at established non-profit organizations; we can ask around to see where help is needed.

Maybe that should be our charge for 2017. On a totally individual level, do something, no matter how small, to make your own community better.

But, let’s not forget the national and world scene. We should keep up with what’s going on, read and watch as much news as possible. Stay informed. Let our elected representatives know how we would like them to vote — and hope and pray they respond more to their constituents than to the call of their party or the lobbyists.

Keep up, also, with local and state issues. The Legislature will have a consequential session this year as our legislators have to make some tough decisions because the state has a lot less money to spend. Each of us needs to be informed so we can make our opinions known.

Our work is cut out for us: Make our communities better, stay informed about what is going on in our world, set our own personal goals, and have some fun. Happy New Year.