Recapturing A Sense of Community in Kelowna

It’s 2014 and the future is here. We have vehicles that tell us where we need to go and how to get there, we have handheld computers in our pockets that are more powerful than the one used to launch a space shuttle to the moon, and we can learn about anything in the entire world at the click of a button. We are living in the future. But despite all of the wondrous advancements that technology and time have brought us, there are some things that can’t be replicated. Things that we need to lead a truly rich a fulfilling life. Things like family, friends, and community.

Ask just about anyone, and you will find that there is a change happening in our world. People are feeling an urge to take a step back and return to a simpler time. A time when you knew the names of everyone who lived on your street. When Bob on the corner would pause from mowing the lawn to say hello as you walked Rover down the street. A time when we felt like we belonged and home wasn’t just the four walls around you, but your entire neighbourhood and all of the people in it.

So how do we get that back? How do we reclaim our community and all of the great things that come with it? We start with “hello”.

Being neighbourly is a key part of community, and it all starts with you and the people you know. Say “hello” to everyone you cross paths with in your community, whether you are out for a morning jog, in the elevator, walking the dog, or unloading the groceries. Of course, this will feel very odd for some people and they may look at you a little funny the first time, but like the “pay-it-forward” movement, you will begin to see the “Hellos” and “How-Are-Yous” spread. It may start with you, but that isn’t where it will end. Before you know it, Bob will be the one who says hi first, and you will find yourselves chatting about life in the coffee shop.

There are so many things in life that technology can replace, and we are certainly grateful for that. I don’t think that any of us begrudge our dishwashers, PVR recorders, or GPS systems, but there are some things that technology can’t replace, and that is great. Technology will never really be able to replace relationships and people, which are the real foundation of a community, and we don’t really want them to. But without people like you and me helping to foster that sense of community it can go dormant. So say “Hello” to your neighbour this week, and help recapture your sense of community and home.