Growing up in the Midwest in the Chicago suburbs in the 1940’s and 1950s as part of a family of nine (Mom, Dad and seven children), we all had jobs to do to assure our family’s success. The job of us kids was to mind mom and dad, participate in the running of the household, go to school to learn and — very important — not to do anything out in the community that could tarnish our family’s reputation of being honest, hardworking people. When were old enough to get jobs and were still living at home, we had to contribute a portion of our earnings to our family “welfare fund” in order to perpetuate the family’s financial viability.
Fast forward to today’s reality. Each community in the U.S.A. is in itself a family. Current financial times call for participation on the part of each of us to contribute to our community. The federal budget cuts necessary to get our country back on the right track will affect us all in some way.
In Durango, we are already ahead of the game because our populous is particularly active by volunteering. But I think we can do even better. We can “pull ourselves up by our bootstraps” and use good old American ingenuity and hard work to maintain the quality of life we enjoy here. Little things add up to accomplishment.
If there are cutbacks in city or county services, keep your eyes open for opportunity, no matter how small. If you see trash on the ground, pick it up for disposal. Services for seniors cut back? Donate your time and energy at one of our three senior centers to help. Barter if you don’t have funds; trade child or elder care with a neighbor. The list could be endless.
Use your imagination. Together we can do the seemingly impossible. If you are working at a job, at the end of each day, do just one more thing before going home to increase productivity.
When we all do our best and actively participate with our “family of citizens,” everything will work out just fine.
I believe in two old sayings — “Everything old is new again” and “charity begins at home!”
Anita Hermosillo
Durango
