COUNCILLOR Alison Hernandez posted a quote on Facebook the other day which simply said "You can make a difference!"
I know that Alison believes this to be an essential truth and it is certainly something that lights my fire.
We live in busy and confusing times with so much going on that too often seems to leave us breathless.
One consequence of that breathlessness is the feeling that nothing that we say or do will make any difference but that is simply not true.
Paulo Coelho (author of The Alchemist) said recently: "Someday everything will make perfect sense. So, for now, laugh at the confusion, smile through the tears and keep reminding yourself that everything happens for a reason."
It was the 'laugh at the confusion' bit that caught my attention because usually the last thing that you want to do is laugh or smile.
But here is something to think about. I have always been a little cynical about some of the antics of the social movers and shakers.
It seems to me that when confusion becomes the norm it too often appears to be a way of protecting the guilty while leaving the innocent bewildered!
By rolling over and saying that you simply can't make a difference you allow those not working for the greater good to flourish and that can't be right.
I've been wearing a bright yellow polo shirt recently with the words PAIGNTON REGATTA printed on the back.
There are numerous other folk wearing the same style of polo shirt and they all have one thing in common.
The common link is giving up time to make the annual Paignton Regatta a success. It's a community thing and happens because folk feel that they can make a difference.
My contribution is organising the Round the Pier Swim, which is a fun event.
Charles Easterbrook started the pier swim and handed it over to me three or four years ago.
It made me smile when I noticed his son Roger, on holiday from London, race into the ocean last week wearing a pair of baggy shorts!
Guy Henderson's wife Lorraine handed out foil blankets to shivering swimmers although she did say how disappointed she was that Mankini Man didn't show this year having been photographed previously wrapping him in silver!
Councillor Dave Thomas dished out free hot chocolate to all after the swim, rounding off a quite special fun time.
It's not just about the yellow shirted committee members though.
Every year the 6th Torbay Britannia Sea Scouts provide safety cover on the water. That is no easy task since they have to pull together at least two powerboats and numerous kayaks.
Local lifeguards and first aiders from the Redcliffe Hotel also pitch up to help. This is truly a community working together and underlines Alison's observation that we all can make a difference!
So many community activities require continual stimulation otherwise they tend to become sluggish and ultimately cease to function.
A recent Twitter posting, or tweet if you like, made me smile. It came from Parliamentary hopeful Kevin Foster and was about a lively Peter Larkin sermon at Saint Matthias in Torquay.
At the time I had just listened to an equally captivating and well-argued sermon from Guy de Gaynesford at the Sacred Heart in Paignton.
That caused me to reflect upon the nature of the church as a gathering place binding a community together.
The famous Tony Blair comment about not doing god rather reduced, in my opinion, that rich tapestry of art and literature. The book by philosopher Alain de Botton 'Religion for Atheists' is worth reading because it offers a completely secular view of something that might be all too easily lost in these turbulent times.
"Where's he going with this?" you might ask, if you have read this far! My point is that for a community to function for the good of all we must accept that we can all make a difference.
The uniqueness of life is amazing and acknowledging the colourful fabric that potentially binds us all together is stunning.
But you need to engage and to bring your uniqueness to the table rather than simply sitting back and saying 'what can I do?'.
One starting point might be seeking out the positive rather than bleating about the negative. Look for good things to say rather than the spiteful.
My day starts with a meditation and even when feeling battered by 'stuff' I still attempt to produce a positive platform in my mind.
Sometimes that is hard work but the fact that my spirit feels low is not a reason for allowing the negative to dominate!
Seek out what matters and hang on to the things that will bring all sections of our community together. It is worth the effort.
Keep the smile.
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