Edmonton as a Community

I've always wanted to leave Edmonton. It's not a beautiful city. It has poor art culture. It has an extremely high murder rate right now. It has extremely high statistics for depression. It's known for its long, cold winters - which I personally find quite miserable.

Why would I want to stay here?

But, now I'm thinking of staying here. Maybe I shouldn't desert Edmonton. Maybe all this gloomy city needs is to be brought to life. Maybe Edmonton just needs a little more sunshine, a little more sugar in its cereal every morning. Maybe some hearts need to be stirred, some eyes need to be opened, and some smiles need to be shared.

I've met a lot of fantastic people in this city - people with beautiful stories, identities, ideas, and hearts, just waiting to get the opportunity to do something AMAZING with themselves. So many people are seriously underestimated. Maybe you're one of those people - waiting for the opportunity to shine.. to fly. Whatever cliche metaphor you'd like to insert here. ;P

I don't doubt you. You can do whatever you really and truly believe you can, with passionate conviction.

Maybe all we need is a sense of community! ;D It can be scary being a part of something much bigger than yourself... but that's what life is centred around. You've heard the "people are like puzzle pieces" comparison. You've probably been on a team, been part of some sort of group or club, and you've definitely been part of a family. Maybe it's time that we started having that sense of unity among the human race.

Maybe you're just waiting for an opportunity to come your way, so you can reach out and grab it. Maybe you find that all the opportunities that come your way are always just out of reach.

What you need is a COMMUNITY. You need a place to belong with like-minded, accepting, uplifting people. Sometimes all we need is that one big - or maybe just little - push. And you can get that from people with the same motivations as you. Find people who are similar to you, and you'll find where you fit... like in a machine! Parts of a machine don't work very well unless they're in the right place... if you can find the right place for you in life, in your community, your school... in Edmonton... you'll start to see your potential broaden and grow.

To sum all this disorganized mess up... Edmonton needs to grow a better sense of COMMUNITY - and we can make that happen! Whether it's starting up a movement for something you believe in, putting yourself out there more so that like-minded people can find each other, or just being more open-minded and accepting of others... we can make it happen!!