As a person engaged in civic life, perhaps the most important skill for you to cultivate is perspective. Building or sustaining a thriving community is done on a generational timeline more than a monthly or annual one. Said another way, the work you do today may not have a tangible impact for you, but it will for your children (or whoever lives in your house 30 years from now).
You didn’t agree to be on the board of that non-profit or serve as Assistant Deputy Director of Community Engagement because of the money and power. (Spoiler alert: there isn’t any.) You said yes because you care about your friends and neighbors. You want to leave this place better than you found it.
Community work is exceedingly difficult and has the potential to burn you out. We’ve all experienced people who have served long enough to became jaded and bitter. To avoid becoming that person and make it through the more frustrating times, it’s essential to recognize the “why” of “why am I doing this?”
Your motivations are unique and worth sharing. They’re also more than just a journaling prompt. Having conversations about your “Why” with you colleagues, neighbors, friends, and family is life-giving and a vital part of the work you’ve signed up for.
Finally, thank you for doing this often thankless work. Our communities have all been built by people like you. I sincerely hope it is more often affirming than frustrating, and that you will someday see the fruits of your efforts.
If you want to continue thinking about what (small “c”) citizenship or just being a good neighbor means in your life, check out these additional resources (a couple of my favorites):
- How to Understand Power (Eric Liu of Citizen University)