individuals, always individuals

personal

“Are you nuts?” asked the voice from the white SUV that pulled up next to us as we turned onto our street from an abbreviated morning constitutional. “The air quality is abysmal”, reminding us we probably ought to be indoors,

It’s scorching in Annapolis—and so much of the world, for that matter—this Friday morning. That term is not an overstatement as heat levels are dangerously high, particularly for those—ahem—of a certain age and/or health condition. Power grids are under stress, as current conditions are harsher for more people than we often realize.

Our beloved community’s gardener-in-chief, Cherie, was asking, rhetorically (I assume), whether we really were doing a full Eastport Walkabout because humidity and temperatures were already dangerously high at 0630.

We assured her we were heading home but eschewed her generous offer of a ride for the final several blocks.

Joking aside, we both appreciated her query, as it went to the heart of what we are celebrating tomorrow: we are a community among millions across this country. Yes, I am making a public service announcement of immediate import.

Call, or at least text, folks you worry might be affected by the heat. The danger is real, and the simple act of asking will make a difference for you and the person you are checking on.

You may not save a life (or you well could, should someone not have sought needed assistance), but your caring act will leave an impression on a person in your community who likely will remember you in the future.

We, as individuals, can engage in that pursuit of happiness cited in the Declaration of Independence through strengthening our own communities by showing our humanity to those around us.

It doesn’t hurt to touch base for any reason with friends or beloveds (ok, new word), wherever they live, because these people are part of our lives. We all have so many communities populated by people who matter in different ways but checking in matters. After all, we never know how many more opportunities any of us will have in the future.

Whether our connections with people are professional, personal, familial, or through pets, communities validate us in more ways than we generally appreciate. Yet, we crave that assurance that others know we exist.

Give it a try, as you will feel great for the remainder of the day, while you will leave a deep imprint on the other people for at least as long.

Not everything important has to be cosmic in size or burden.

Talk about actions and consequences.

Thank you for reading this column today. I welcome anecdotes or comments (or anything else) on friendship, reconnecting, looking in on others, or the phases of the moon, as Actions Create Consequences is a community for discussion.

Despite any of us critiquing a policy or another person’s choice, the United States of America remains an amazing array of many communities we are lucky enough to experience as a sovereign nation. We have divisions yet, so many things that unite us: for this once, let’s focus on what bounty we share.

Celebrate this monumental Fourth safely. Alcohol, fireworks, crowds, and heat can be a recipe for fun or a catastrophe.

Be well and be safe. FIN

The Declaration of Independence, 1776, NationalArchives.gov, retrieved at https://www.archives.gov/founding-docs/declaration-transcript