It is easy to look at life through rose-colored glasses when things are going well for us. I have to remind myself that the person in front of me may be carrying a load I cannot see.
Our neighbors do not all have the same money, housing, health, or family support. One person is working two jobs. Another is caring for a parent. Someone else is dealing with a mental or physical health problem and still trying to make it through the day. A little patience can matter more than we know.
Kindness is a choice we can make today
Hold the door. Check on a neighbor. Let somebody finish speaking. If you see a problem on your block, ask how you can help before you decide what kind of person caused it. We still need rules and safe neighborhoods. We can uphold them without losing our humanity.
I have spent a lot of years coaching and mentoring young people. The lesson is simple: people do better when they are seen, heard, and held to a fair standard. Adults are not so different. Neither am I.
We will not agree on every Council vote or every change in our city. That is okay. We can disagree, ask hard questions, and still treat each other with care. My wish for McDonough is that people feel the difference in the small moments: at the park, in a store, at a meeting, and on their own street.
Be a good neighbor this week. It does not require a budget amendment.
Sources and next steps
These are my District 1 views and general information. City notices and records control when an official action or deadline changes.