Isms: Views on life in rural America

Isn’t it interesting how a series of unrelated events can lead to introspection and validate plans you have set in motion?

A goal I established for 2025 is to send a card or letter to individuals, just because. No hidden agenda, no strings attached. A simple ‘thinking of you,’ a random act of kindness. I didn’t set a quota because doing so seemed to put a limit on potential connections.

Since Jan. 1, I’ve sent three cards, one to a stranger who shared a powerful message, thanking her for the wise words. The other two were delivered to people who have made an impact in our communities.

I didn’t really connect the dots until I read something a friend of mine, a former Norfolk Daily News staffer, wrote about mic-drop moments when we experience Jesus in our lives. She shared her moment and discussed how taking time to be present, loving and compassionate is hard because it goes against societal norms.

She wrote about the last time she saw our mutual friend, Jay Prauner, who served as managing editor at the NDN and died Saturday. That’s when the mic-drop moment hit home for me.

Since I still contribute to the NDN, I work closely with Jay and Tim Pearson, another editor. I see them often at industry events and meetings and the routine runs the same way: a few quick pleasantries before or after the meeting, maybe a 30-second praise or vent session and then, it’s on to the next task.

In newspaper speak, deadlines dictate much of our day-to-day happenings. While that’s one of the parts of journalism I love, it’s also a drawback. There really isn’t down time in this job. Even while I’m driving from a meeting to an activity or interview, I’m planning the next details, working out article ideas or constructing a to-do list.

We’re always in a rush, always preparing for something, constantly running instead of living in the here and now.

Sometimes, we just need to be, just breathe.

So I did. I closed my eyes and thought about my friend’s message, taking it to heart. The first thing I saw after opening my eyes was this sentence: Make a habit of reaching out to people just because they crossed your mind.

It takes less than five minutes of the 1,440 were given each day to write a heartfelt message or converse with friends or strangers or just be.

I’ll keep those cards and letters coming and listen to the mic-drop moments that inspire me.