Director's Take

Relationships, Service, & Purpose

01-08-2025

Dear Friend of Downtown,

The U.S. Surgeon General issued a farewell letter to the country this week as he resigns his post, calling on us to find ways around the emptiness, division, and stress that are so common in our lives today. He asserts there are three elements that we need in order to recenter our lives and help us to find fulfillment: relationships, service, and purpose.

He goes on to say about one third of adults and half of young people struggle with loneliness. So it’s ironic that Admiral Murthy recommends external actions to combat an internal feeling… we’ve been looking at this backward. Have you ever noticed there are sections in bookstores that are for self-help but not for helping others?

Employers, organizations, and schools can build a focus on those relationships, service and purpose. That’s us; you and me. We can help by stepping outside ourselves and reaching out. Creating the environments to feel bonded, do formal volunteering or even small acts of kindness, and feel direction.

Downtown is the perfect environment for such an endeavor… the heart of the community that is everyone’s neighborhood. Where you can get a wider perspective of our world and connect with something bigger. It’s not only good for us individually but it’s good for the health and wellbeing of our community.

I will be reaching out and hope to find you. See you on the streets soon!