Friday, May 3, 2024
Living in a small town is simply different than living in the big city. If you desire to be close to a vibrant nightlife, dine in a multitude and variety of restaurants, or go to professional ball games and musical entertainment, it would be much wiser to live in the D-FW area rather than some small town in rural Texas. The hustle and bustle of the “big city” provides an energy and rhythm that excites and motivates. Lots of young people are driven to live there and experience all it has to offer.
After all, there are also more job opportunities in the metroplex than in rural areas, and usually at a higher wage. If you are single, there is a larger pool from which to seek a companion. Urban areas offer a greater chance to experience the arts, emerge in a wide range of cultures and ethnicities, and greater shopping opportunities.
Despite all these positives, there are arguably negatives to life in the metroplex. Traffic is the first one that springs to mind. I see people scramble on U.S. Highway 75, Interstate Highway 635, or the President George Bush Turnpike, and I wonder how they bear the constant rush, the stress of getting to their job on time, and the isolation of spending hours of their week simply getting to and from work. It’s not something which I envy.
All the hustle and bustle make me wonder how often the urban dwellers get to engage with their neighbors and share this journey we call life — or are they so busy running from one event to the other they miss the blessing of community?
The small town I live in is growing. Occasionally, old timers will complain about the changes. They are frustrated with having to wait in line, or road construction, or building new schools to accommodate the growth in students. They yearn for the slower pace of yesteryear, and I understand why. There is something peaceful and pleasurable about a small town’s slower pace and taking the time to interact with your neighbors.
Just this past week, I was leaving the office about 5:15. The building where I work sits on a very busy thoroughfare. There are plans being made by TxDOT to widen the road to remedy the traffic ills, but it will not happen for some four or five years to come. Currently, during busy times of the day, the street can seem like it is in the heart of Dallas with traffic backed up. There is simply too much congestion.
What I have come to realize is that I have never had to wait more than a few moments before having access to turn on the road. I simply drive to the exit of my parking lot and some nice member of my community will “wave me in” and allow me to get in line. This happens every night. Without fail, before one or two cars pass, someone waves me on to the roadway, even though it slows their trip. I can’t help but believe if I was trying to get out on a busy street in Fort Worth or Dallas, other drivers would ignore me or look away.
Letting someone get on the highway is not tantamount to curing cancer or solving world hunger but it does denote a sense of community and kindness, which permeates nearly all the drivers in my town. Thank goodness they happily show kindness and give a quick wave to acknowledge their community members in need of a very small favor. Such a random act of kindness is indicative of a mindset which is in all Texas small towns: Help your neighbor when you can.
I hope our communities grow. I wish for prosperity and a better life for us all as our world changes, but I sure hope we never lose that little bit of kindness that makes us special.
Thought for the day: Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give.
Until next time…I will keep ridin’ the storm out.
sam@hcnews.com
