PERSPECTIVE

Generosity Feeling the warmth

learning, being and doing And therefore, a bit of hope

Ayoung man approached me in a parking lot yesterday. “My family and I are staying over The average high temperature in March in northern Colorado is in the upper 50s. And by April, it will be in there and if we could get five dollars we could the 60s. We’ll start having days in the upper get a pizza. If we could get ten we could get 60s. Life will flood onto porches and yards and two and that would cover us.” into the parks once again. We won’t be out of I had no idea whether his story was true. the COVID tunnel for a little while yet, but the He looked as though he was living rough, air will start to be fresher, the light more natural. though—gaunt, sunken cheeks, despairing eyes. I can almost feel the warmth. Without hesitation, I pulled out my wallet We’re realistic though. We know that grass and handed him ten bucks. I don’t know just why I did it. He wasn’t won’t green up until April and trees won’t bud until May, but we also threatening. He wasn’t over imploring. He just seemed to really need a know that crocuses will push up this month. The sun will pass the equinox boost right then and interacting with him right there a couple of feet and our days will become longer than our nights. away, I just felt it was a moment.We’re emerging from the long, dark winter into the brightening It’s not that I’m on a mission to give away all of our money. I walk spring. I have wanted to write that for a long time. And I’m starting to and drive by plenty of people who are asking for a little push. And I’m feel it. We have to keep our guard up. We’ve made it this far. It all seems not driven to help others by a sense of guilt or even a feeling of being easier though when we can go for a walk or talk to our neighbors over a lucky enough to have it and these others don’t and so therefore it’s my fence at a safe distance but close enough to see each other smile and catch social obligation to do it. Nor do I get a big sense of satisfaction. I have up after the long, long winter. a hard time pinpointing why I feel compelled to help out sometimes, We’re looking positively toward the near future. You can find our whether scooping a sidewalk for a neighbor or stopping to push a car, annual Camp Guide in the center of this issue. Turns out that parents and other times not so much. and kids are ready, willing and able to go to camp this summer and Every fall, a neighbor of ours comes by with his air compressor camp providers are gearing up. The challenge is to provide great camp and blows out our sprinkler lines. He makes the rounds in our experiences and keep everyone as safe as possible. Check out the guide to corner of the neighborhood and gets everyone ready for winter. He explore the possibilities. doesn’t ask for anything. He just does it because he can. It is not a And what is spring without the ritual of spring cleaning. This may transactional offer in any way. be the year to elevate spring cleaning from a ritual to celebration! In the Theresa Baer writes this month in her Learn and Live column Healthy Living column, Lea Hanson takes you on a journey to a healthy about teaching children to be generous and to volunteer. She also offers spring clean with the right attitude and safe cleaners. some ideas about where and how. The idea is to help children to be And for a great family activity, Lea takes a swoop at introducing you aware of others’ needs and to understand that they, themselves, have and your family to birding. What a perfect activity for the entire family to something to offer. get outdoors and get in touch with nature. She talks about where to find The goal is for them, really all of us, to not just do generosity as an birds and how to make it a fun game. activity that we have come to understand as something that we should And now for the big enchilada. Isn’t it time to hit the road for a do because we’re lucky enough to have something and those other family vacation? We all just want to get out of our slowly collapsing people are struggling. Where we’re really headed with this is for our spaces and onto the open road. Lynn Nichols discusses how to get away children to see people who are just like they are, who just want to be together via air and land. She even has some ideas for the one-day outing. happy just as they do and who don’t want to feel bad just as they don’t So chin up, breathe deeply and soak up as much sun as you can. want to. We want to get beyond the them and us feelings. We don’t just Spring is almost here, followed by a summer that I hope we can all revel drop money in a can and walk by. We stop. We talk and engage with in with a renewed appreciation about what this wonderful life offers us. people who are just like us. Be safe. Be well.

In the end, we want to be generosity, not just do generosity, though Scott the path to being generosity, it seems, lies through the path of doing generosity.

‘Tis the season,

Scott

OCTOBER 2019 • Volume 24, Issue 6MARCH 2021 • Volume 25, Issue 10

PUBLISHER PUBLISHER Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 Scott Titterington, (970)221-9210 scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com scott.rmpublishing@gmail.com EDITOR EDITOR Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 Kristin Titterington, (970)221-9210 kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com kristin.rmpublishing@gmail.com CREATIVE DIRECTOR CREATIVE DIRECTOR Emily Zaynard Emily Zaynard emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com emily.rmpublishing@gmail.com ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR ADVERTISING SALES DIRECTOR Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 Greg Hoffman, (970)689-6832 greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com greg.rmpublishing@gmail.com DISTRIBUTION MANAGER DISTRIBUTION MANAGER ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE ADVERTISING SALES EXECUTIVE Susan Hartig Susan Harting susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com susan.rmpublishing@gmail.com COVER PHOTO COVER PHOTO Cheri Schonfeld, Courtesy of istock.com Sky’s Open Design - skysopendesign.com CONTRIBUTING WRITERS CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson Theresa Baer, Lea Hanson, Katie Harris, Lynn U. Nichols, Scott Titterington Lynn U. Nichols

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