Here’s what’s missing in Arroyo Grande: Patience and kindness
Something is missing from the Village of Arroyo Grande. My friend Jude Genova is gone. He greeted me with a smile and a shout every morning as I ran through the Village. He was hit by a truck in a crosswalk and later died from his injuries.
The fox is gone too. She made me smile when she played with my dog and added a feeling of wonder to my day. Although she was a well-known resident of the Village for several months, she was suddenly euthanized for bothering the neighborhood chickens.
But perhaps the most important things that are gone are patience and kindness. People are so busy rushing through the Village and through their lives that they fail to think about others around them. Maybe during the upcoming holiday season we can all slow down a little bit. Take a moment to make sure there isn’t a pedestrian crossing the street. Take time to find a better solution to a problem. Maybe even smile and say hello to a stranger. Our lives a fuller when we think of others before ourselves.
Katherine Vause, Arroyo Grande
This story was originally published November 23, 2017 at 6:51 PM with the headline "Here’s what’s missing in Arroyo Grande: Patience and kindness."