New Blog: The Carroll Character

The first of each New Year I make it a point to read just one of the dozens of “Resolution” articles in the newspapers and magazines.  This year it was Patti Ritter’s article in the Carroll County Times, New Perspectives on Resolutions. 

Ms. Ritter points out that most of the resolutions made at the beginning of the New Year are self centered, all about me.  She posits that if we decided to resolve to be a blessing each day in someone else’s life, we might get to the end of January with our resolve in tact. I think she is on to something. 

It might just be part of the old “Good Girl” syndrome so many of us struggle with, that is, “I might not take good care of me but I’m hell bent on taking care of you.”  Even so it is not a bad idea.  So many people never hear a kind word, a word of appreciation, a simple excuse me or thank you.  And it is so easy to do if you take the time to think about it and the little bit of time it takes to actually do something for someone else.  This works not only for people but organizations. 

As I read Ms. Ritter’s article I couldn’t help but think about some of the things that go on at the Community Foundation of Carroll County.  The things that aren’t on any list anywhere because you can’t count them or see them or hold them in your hand--the staff person who cries with the mother of a deceased child, or stands up at a meeting and shares her own tragic experience or delivers food to animals starving in the cold on her own time.  The person who didn’t respond in kind to an undeserved tongue lashing she got because she recognized the stress the other person was under at the time.  The person who stops by to see an elderly client because she knows the client is lonely.  The person who repeats things a dozen times to be sure someone understands something important.

These things happen every day and not just in our organization.  Throughout Carroll County, non-profit organizations provide this unsung, uncountable kindness over and over again.  You might say it’s a habit and wouldn’t it be wonderful if that habit was adopted by everyone.  You might say it’s the Carroll Character and you would be right.