The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.

Small Town Mentality

By Dessa Rodeffer
Quill Editor/Publisher

26 April 2000

Wherever did the term "Small Town Mentality" come from, and what do you suppose was meant by it?

I'm sure it wasn't a compliment when it was first used, just like the term "Yankee Doodles" wasn't a compliment made by the British during the Revolutionary War.

But I like the idea of small town mentality.

For instance, this past week in La Harpe, a strong wind came through La Harpe and neighbors called to see if they could help with cleanups or they pitched right in helping out.

New owners of the local restaurant in La Harpe had difficulty early one morning when the drain on the deep fat fryer hadn't been completely shut off and she poured a whole container of grease into it and found it had run through all over the floor. A city worker who had come in for his early morning cup of coffee was there and helped clean up the mess plus ran to the store to purchase more grease.

The small towns are full of what is known as "small town mentality" and to me that means putting others before yourself.

Volunteers at the nursing home, the churches, the ambulance services and fire departments, even the auxiliary police are "the norm" in small towns.

You seem to find it everywhere you go in our small communities.

Community members ask about your children, your mother, your job, then stay long enough to listen to your celebrations as well as your trials in life. Not only that, the next time they see you, they just might have a solution for that problem and show up to help you with the task.

It seems small town mentality have big hearts, and are probably some of the most happiest and probably the most healthiest people in the world.

One of the reasons this is true, I feel, is their ability to express themselves.

A speaker on the radio at a convention in Chicago was speaking about the importance of expressing ourselves, whether it is our hurts or successes.

She said, when we feel; we have been a victim in a circumstance, or treated unfairly and can not express ourselves, it can do great damage inside us both emotionally as well as physically.

For example, if she is talking to women about being abused, she says you must "always tell :always tell :always tell!"

Abusers love secrets, she said, but when victims keep things inside, they become depressed, unhappy, angry, and it works on their health. Find someone safe to tell, but always tell, she said.

In big cities it is easy to become isolated, but in small towns people visit. Communication may not take place over the back yard clothes lines anymore, but communication is on the phone lines, e-mail, and businesses.

It's the small town mentality that keeps our kids coming home and our old folks living longer and healthier lives.