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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW AARP offers tax preparation assistance ... Ashland plans pot information class ... The weekly miracle of Uncle Foods Diner ... AARP offers tax preparation assistance ... Ashland plans pot information class ... The weekly miracle of Uncle Foods Diner ... WINNING ESSAY What can 'I' do? Not as much 'we' can Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Editor’s note: In his Council Corner column on Jan. 5, Ashland Mayor John Stromberg invited readers to submit essays giving “A concrete example of how I can make the world better in 2016” and offered as a prize a meal with the mayor at his favorite restaurant. The mayor reports he received 10 “thoughtful, articulate, meaningful and on-point entries. What a town this is!” Here is the winning essay by Vanessa Houk. Additional entries will appear as guest opinions in the Tidings as space permits. By Vanessa Houk We live in a world that celebrates selfies and Kardashians, and puts an emphasis on monetary gain as a definition of personal success. We define ourselves by our careers rather than the values that will be our legacy. Meanwhile we are surrounded by suffering that most of us can’t, or won’t, see. How can I make this world a better place? How can I teach kindness and compassion when it feels like these values are slipping away from our collective being? I can start by caring about what happens right at my own feet. I can commit to the radical act of choosing to try to see the good in other people. I call that a radical act because let’s face it, we’re all pretty flawed on this bus. Toward the end of 2015, WE (an acronym for Wellness for Everyone) started organizing a monthly community meal to try to keep some healthy dialog going with Ashland’s most vulnerable residents and to bridge healing in both directions. In November and December, we collected cold weather gear, shoes and socks from dozens of people and we put out a call for food donations which also came rolling in. We fed more than 60 homeless people at our first meal and about 100 at the second. These meals and giveaways were love in action and, while “I” helped with both, it took volunteer effort from dozens of people to make it happen. Our “small core” group comprises 13 people from different walks of life. Our bigger planning group is more than 80. When I think about what “I” can do to change the world for the better, I know that it starts with me, but it doesn’t end there. I have to surround myself with people like Oshana, Susan, Russell, Jason and Ana (and many others) because I know we can do amazing things when we work together. I’ve been thinking a lot about folks like Marty Bryant, who organized community meals in Ashland for many years. He passed away from cancer a few years ago, but I could feel his presence there with us as we stood in Pioneer Hall serving food and handing out warm clothing at these recent meals. When you live a life of service to others, you live on in the hearts of other people. Recognizing a need in the community and stepping in to fill that need isn’t a hard challenge even in the face of great urgency, but it does take tenacity. I believe we are rich with that. We are just getting started. There's interest in expanding our mission to include seeking solutions for housing and I’m excited to see what we’ll accomplish. Not “I” or “me” or “you,” but WE. We can make this little corner of the world a better place and inspire other communities to do the same. Just imagine the healing that will come from that. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Feb. 9, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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