My wife and I spent Friday and Saturday in a small town in deep East Texas. Population less than 2,000. The once robust city is now a tourism town, which may account for some of the lessons gleaned from our short stay, but I don’t think that is the only reason for some of the truths that stand out. There are deeper lessons visible from old wisdom, and it would serve us well to remember them.

Keep It Clean

The city is clean. No litter, no graffiti (even on the train trestle). We drove around in the “non-tourist” zones, too, and even the cluttered yards didn’t have trash – they had clutter. We didn’t see a single “professional” cleaner, like a city employee whose job it would be to keep things picked up for appearance’s sake. I’m reminded of how the great turnaround of New York city several decades began with enforcing small rules and keeping things cleaned up.

Smile

There were a lot of smiles, and they seemed genuine. Except for the clerk behind the counter at a McDonald’s, everyone was genuinely friendly. They weren’t “overly friendly” like they felt the need to put on a show for the tourists; they simply seemed happy, even the lady selling wonderful ice cream on a cold night while stationed in a little, portable shop on the sidewalk.

Drive Slowly and Look Around

I don’t know why they have speed limit signs there. Tourists drive slowly to take in the sights of the historic homes and cool shops, and the residents drive slowly, likely out of habit from dealing with admiring tourists. Funny thing happens when you slow down – you get to see cool buildings, interesting people, fun signage and beautiful trees.  Slow down. Look around.

Converse

Wherever we stopped (except for the previously cited McDonald’s) people were willing to converse. To chat.  They weren’t averse to questions, whether answering them or asking them, and that opened the door to warm, albeit short, conversations. There is so much more potential when encountering others than simply saying “Hi.” Fellow visitors and residents alike were comfortably conversant and not overwhelming or intrusive. Having a conversation is good for heart and soul.

Respect the Past and Honor It

The little town has a lot of history and it is not perfect. Welcome to the human race. There are many traces of the past and respect is shown for the buildings and the stories. Honor the past with respect, stories and clarity. It works for communities and individuals, too.

Things change and that’s okay

The little town is not the same that it was 160 years ago, and not just the obvious in terms of development and “progress.” It has a different purpose, it has a different way of life, it has a different outlook on the future…all because of change. The community honors the past, including its architecture, as well as the influences of neighborly (Cajun) culture. Life changes for individuals, communities and the world. And that’s okay…with change is opportunity for improvement and for building on the past.

The old Carnegie library in this town was not the only place where stories, wisdom and entertainment resided; they were in the people, buildings and culture of the community. I am willing to wager every town and community offers similar opportunities if we remember the truths revealed in this weekend trip.