Somehow we’re conditioned to believe that small towns are cities that suffered stunted growth. We absorb this kind of thinking at a time in our lives when we don’t really know what we don’t know, but are convinced we know a lot. It seems a logical deduction then, that life is slower and can’t possibly offer the same variety of entertainment or the same cultural, intellectual, or entrepreneurial opportunities as larger locales.
Years ago, Richard Carlson wrote “Wherever you are, be there.” How poignant in its brevity and in its truth. Thankfully, some of us come to appreciate that anywhere, we can always find what we want and need because our path leads us to that very spot where time and place intersect.
Anonymity is perhaps most prevalent in vats of constant noise, activity, and clamor. The bigger the venue, the greater the mix, the bigger the vat. It seems far easier to be anonymous and keep a low profile in a larger area. Not always so in a smaller town, where even if we don’t always know a name, it’s likely that we’ve seen that face “around.” We all smile and nod politely because that’s what we do; it’s a silent acknowledgment that we share the same neighborly contentment.
Speaking strictly for myself, I’m grateful that I reside in a small town that has both heart and head. I can busy myself in activities, events, and causes, or I can be still and reflective, knowing that my “me time” is respected. Sooner or later, I’ll see you on the path!
