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Butch Furse
Sometimes it’s difficult to start our day after reading or hearing of violence in communities throughout the world. Thanks to a couple from Minneapolis, Jim and Cindy Uldrich, who gave us a new perspective after their community witnessed a chaotic night of idiot behavior upon the streets of their community on July 4.
The couple wanted to overcome that headline making that heartless violence by portraying that community in a different light by using the positive experiences they noted from others while taking their daily walks.
Their observations got the Betterhalf and myself while walking being more observant of our own community citizenry’s positive actions that many of us enjoy as commonplace.
We witnessed several individuals voluntarily picking up trash that had been thrown on the streets and trail. We saw others drive past taking an elderly neighbor to the grocery store. Later, we witnessed a host of volunteers at the animal shelter; several heading to school volunteering as tutors; others reporting at the senior center to fill their duties of delivering meals on wheels; and even more spending their time at the Food Pantry, etc.
After walking our mind was still full of positive thoughts of the everyday “good things happening in our community. Volunteer coaches coaching youngsters after work; people helping at the Plainsman Museum, Edgerton Center, The Leadership Center, churches, civic organizations... and the list goes on and on.
When thinking about the community positives we can’t overlook the cooperation of our city and county governments and the importance of the past public and private financial contributions, as well as our citizens’ positive votes for numerous civic and school bond issues.
Another factor that should not be forgotten in the importance of Aurora’s positive experiences, is the numerous foundations created by the donations given to our community by both the living and deceased.
The Minneapolis couple said it best when they concluded their thoughts in the Star-Tribune: “There are so many inspirational things silently happening all around... more important search your own heart and strive to love your community and its citizens in a way that nurtures your own soul, for it is there that you also will find the soul of the city we call home.”
We agree.
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Thoughtfulness of others can make our own lives richer.
RL Furse is publisher emeritus of the News-Register
