You Can Wear Heels on Gravel, Too.

What's your impact within your community?

Community matters- so much. Who we surround ourself with, what we listen to, what we watch- it all impacts how we view the world and ultimately ourselves. And when we start our day off with people who are part of our community, it's even better.

I never grew up being a school drop off kid. On the farm, you rode the bus the hour to and from school. Now, being able to take our children to school has become a favorite of mine. Not only because we get extra time to chat at the table or sing in the car, but also because of the connection I get to make with other parents through sleepy smiles and coffee cup "cheers". I love getting to feel positively connected to others, first thing, with a simple half-hand-steering-wheel wave. That same wave I used to make fun of my dad for doing on Rural Route 2. (Remember those addresses before the 991 ones came along?!)

Getting to live in a small town is honestly not what I planned when in college. I wanted to take on Chicago, work at a big TV station and wear heels up and down Magnificant Mile. Turns out, you can wear heels on gravel, too. Your impact on your own community can truly be as simple as a friendly greeting at school drop off. When you make a person feel part of a community, they feel valued and loved. Their day is brighter because of that moment you took to say hello, to give them value.

Although school drop off won't happen for a few more days, next week, make it your mission to do the two-finger-farmer-wave to a few fellow drivers. Watch your impact. Watch the smiles. Watch the sense of community.

And I promise, they won't even notice your house Crocs when you do it.