Community: Intentionality

Civility is about building communities in which people thrive.  Tip 1 is about intentionality.

Community doesn’t often naturally occur.  It requires someone who has a vision.  I could have been a grandfather in a variety of ways.  I could have attended the kids’ sporting events.  I could have bought cool gifts for their birthdays.  I could have taken them on trips.  I could have ignored them altogether.

I wanted to build something they would experience as magical.  Disney captures magic.  You can feel it when you enter the park.  Children like magic.  I am not talking about magic tricks or black magic.  I am talking about experiencing life as if for the first time, being excited, unguarded and alive.  Movie Night had to be about capturing the magic of childhood such that everyone would feel that feeling every time they got together.  The magic would make Movie Night feel special.

I Invested in a 3D big screen television, surround sound, reclining furniture and blankets. I bought movies that would appeal to kids of all ages and let them pick what they wanted to watch.  They couldn’t wait for the movie to start and hated it when their parents took them home before it was over.

Movie Night has evolved over the years.  The grandchildren now range for the 3^rd grade to a senior in high school.  It has become progressively more difficult to find movies that interest them and are appropriate for everyone.  But by adding a hot tub and pool table everyone can do something that is magical.

Consider your community.   What would make being together feel special?  What would make it stand out and make it an occurrence that people wouldn’t want to miss out on? What is your vision for the magic you want to create in your community? Send me whatever comes to mind.