Let's focus on the positive--for once!

I’m tired. Tired of what? I’m tired of grouchy people who daily seem to find things to announce on Facebook or elsewhere in the community, about how bad things are. Or rumors of how bad things are. Or singing a dirge about Manchester's impending death by implosion.

It’s so easy to get embroiled in the drama. But guess what? Manchester is not dead. There has been no death sentence. It is not dying. It’s not perfect, that’s for sure--and no one would try and tell you that.

We have lost a grocery store, a pharmacy, and are about to lose our beloved office supply/“dime store,” all within six months. Yup, that’s a tough blow for any town. But Manchester has shown time and again that it’s not just “any town.” If any town is capable of pulling itself up by its own bootstraps, it would be Manchester. I’ve seen it happen time and again over the years I've lived in this town. I’m tired of having naysayers underestimating what can happen.

We have our problems, but we are working on them. We have hard working business owners, we have a wonderful core group of volunteers, that serve in all aspects of the school, businesses, organizations, and community. Open your eyes, and look around. What can you do to help make things better?

Try looking at the positive; we still have many great businesses in Manchester, not all of which are readily visible to the public. We have volunteers actively working to bring new businesses to town. There is a lot to be proud of in our community. Those who complain may have a legitimate point, but it is very difficult to build a positive climate and culture in the community when all we do is read the same negative mantras on Facebook week after week.

The Manchester fair isn't what you remember? Guess what? When you are 3-10 years old, any fair is pretty darned amazing. The rides are HUGE. The cotton candy is delicious. The carnival guys are ... well, carnival guys. The fair is what you make it. If it's not what you remember, take your kids anyway. They will probably love it and have some great memories that they take into adulthood.

The fair itself has been through some pretty hard times over the years. If ever there was a miracle story of Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Manchester Community Fair would probably be its poster child. The fact that it's still going on after 75 years, and planning for year #76 already, is a testament to exactly what the Manchester spirit can do.

Our schools are on a great track right now, with a new superintendent and a leaned-down staff that better matches our student population. Yes, there have been (and likely still are) problems, but the administration and staff are trying to address them. If you made the difficult choice to withdraw your child(ren) from Manchester schools, I respect that decision and your reasons for doing so. You know your child best. What works fine for one kid could be toxic for another. But please don't bring it up every single time someone makes a comment about the schools.

Every day I see things that volunteers are doing: for the school, for the community, for their neighbors and friends. I also see a huge amount of compassion and generosity among the members of this community. These people are not wealthy. They don't have any more hours in their day than you or I do. They are not superheroes. They are just plain, every day people who care about this town and want to make a contribution.

Manchester has so much to be proud of and so much to strive for. We need more cheerleaders and fewer critics. We need people who are willing to get involved and make a difference right here and now. It’s time to take a stand and remind ourselves why we chose to live here. 

Manchester is really not a whole lot different than any other town in any other state. All towns — small and large — have their problems; the ones who succeed have most of the same traits that we have here in Manchester — strong volunteerism, a strong work ethic, lots of great people who care about each other. So why shouldn’t we succeed, too? We have determined people who want to help build up the community. 

Stop being grouchy. Open your eyes and look around you at all that we have and all that we could have in this community. And ask yourself what you can do to make this place a better place to live, work, and play.

It’s what we all need. Let's do it.

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by Marsha Chartrand

Marsha Johnson Chartrand, a founder, writer, and copy editor with the Manchester Mirror, is a 50-year resident of Manchester. She has a long history of volunteer and community involvement.