Foley - Making Life Real
Foley Alabama: Making Life Real
The essence of Foley is making life real. Through many reflections and dialogues within the community, we have come to see that making life real is at the heart of this community, and describes the spirit of being in this community.
Making life real is a process for everyone, a process every individual and group can participate in, and it is the essence of our town. What does making life real look like in a community? Foley is growing fast, but it's still the kind of small town where people wave from cars and open doors for each other. It has deep-rooted communities within it: decades old charitable organizations, such as the Foley Women’s Club, devoted to the well being, safety and education of children. Many volunteers and organizations help those in need, supporting each other in many ways. We have neighborhoods with growing families working hard to help their children reach their potential. There are coffee shops, art studios and a tea bar that serve to gather people together and provide an outlet for creativity and self expression. The people working in government here are approachable and make efforts to provide spaces and events for people to play, enjoy nature, have quiet and enriching times, and bring families, communities and visitors together. Art and movies in the park, a wonderful living library, sporting events, investment in historical preservation, and enriching experiences in Graham Creek Nature Preserve come to mind.
Looking at the whole, if we see Foley as a part of the whole of earth, we can see that we, the community of Foley, can play a role in the world as a beacon of light for real interactions and real experiences. We can create a living presence of a community working to make life real.
We can consciously - willfully and mindfully - choose to take part in making life real. Going forward, at the heart of our making life real, are four main principles:
Bringing all inclusive love to the processes of daily life. This involves personal, real, face to face interaction and personal relationships between people and their organizations and communities.
Working for all of the children. We all know that children hold within them so much potential. In any process of decision making and in any action, we can ask ourselves, Does this work for all the children? Not just my child, but all of the children? Even better, all the children in the world? For any community that wants to be forward thinking, what else could possibly be more important?
Respecting the essence-virtue of the land where we live. Settled within the Gulf Coast estuarial land, Foley is a very special place. The habitat where fish, amphibians, dolphins, alligators and river otters find their nurseries is special. We have pitcher plant bogs that evolved over millennia. The forests and savannas contain special native species. The bayous and Wolf Bay offer amazing tidal rhythm and beautiful vistas. The thunderheads of summer create drama and cool the day. All of this may all be missed by a passerby, but any time spent here, and we can see and experience the essence virtue of the land: rhythmic soothing, life replenishing, intent remembering.
Moving toward wholeness and away from that which divides. Being consciously engaged, recognizing that everyone and every organization within Foley has potential. We are all in it together, there is no “other.” No matter what our role is in the community, we can live making life real every day by connecting ourselves to the greater good of the community. Everyone we come across, every interaction however fleeting, is another opportunity to make life real, and bring forth greater and greater unfolding potential in our community.
And that leads us back to the first principle, and so on. This is an ongoing process, where we can all say “Yes” to our unique part in making life real here in Foley, Alabama, and perhaps beyond. Making life real may catch on!
