EDITOR’S NOTE: We’re happy to welcome back Dave Markwell and his popular “Feel Good Friday” column to South King Media. Each edition offers a moment to pause, appreciate the beauty around us and head into the weekend with a little extra optimism. We’re glad to have Dave’s positive perspective and community spirit back with us!
Last weekend, I wandered around my park in my town by my sea with a stick. I smashed trash in cans so I didn’t have to change the bags often.
It was the day of an annual fundraising event and it was great. The sun showed up while the music played, and a wonderful crowd of friends and strangers shared a fine day. I laughed with my people and hugged a few good ones. I met some new ones, too, which is always nice. The beers were cold and smooth and the smiles were easy and honest. Many of my favorite things had gathered in the same place, at the same time, to create a nice reminder that I have these things. And I like it when this happens.
I take a possessive tone over a small city and a community park and a public sea because I’m connected to them. I’ve known them and shared my life’s time actively engaged in theirs. I’ve worked and lived in the park and I couldn’t count the hours/years I’ve spent swimming, fishing or floating on the water. Or just loving the rhythm of its tides and the sweet perfume of salt and hot mud and sea life. I’ve also enjoyed it as a mirror reflecting the colors of a warm summer sunset. I’ve sat on benches in my marina, confiding in my waters as it listened and sometimes consoled me.
Connecting intimately with anything, we change. We see them differently and feel them differently. This is true for benches and cold waters and warm grass by the sea. And it’s true for people, too. We possess them in our heads and in our hearts. It’s not exactly ownership, but more enrollment and engagement, or simply enjoyment, in what they have to offer. We feel connected and appreciate this connection. We feel close to them and like it. They add value to our days, so we want to honor them and support them and contribute nice things to them.
I think this is how true communities work. It’s an exchange of people with ideas and a canvas of spaces upon which to paint new pictures with new colors. Communities are built by human minds and hearts painting on the canvas of its spaces. And sometimes this is beautiful. But, it’s always important. It is growth and evolution. And, this work is done by the people who show up and organize and give and care about the creation of the community in which they live. This is vital to the place, but also the people. Active participation in making things better, makes us better. It connects us and makes us feel right. When we share our voices, ideas, skills, or spirits, we take things personally. We feel them personally. And we can even love them. And this is the best way to feel.
For this reason, the much-maligned “participation trophy” might be quite valuable. In fact, it might be the best prize we can achieve. I think it is. And it’s available to everyone. We can all win it- and maybe should, or at least should try. Anybody can show up and share what they have and feel better for this effort. It’s accessible and easy and important. And it changes things. Participation gives us agency and a sense that we can matter. And we do. All of us. It also allows us to walk through a park by the sea on a sunny afternoon, listening to music and conversations and the laughter of friends, and take it personally. And know it as ours. And this is a nice way to feel. I encourage it.
Dave Markwell is a life-long Des Moines liver and lover. Former owner of Waterland CrossFit and the Waterland Arcade, Dave uses his unique story-telling voice to help small businesses tell a better story, and his love for people to help folks live bigger and better lives. For more info, check out his website: wordsbydave.net
