One Man’s Trash

At what point in our evolution as a society was the decision made to discard trash anywhere you like: out the window of a car, gum spat on a sidewalk, cans/bottles left wherever they were emptied down a gullet? Was there a vote?

The other day I was walking with my son through the neighborhood. There was an empty box of candy in the grass and without a word, he bent down and picked it up. Before we got back home where he threw it in the trash can, I said, as if he was still a child, “why’d you pick that up? You don’t know where it’s been.” He held it up and said, “if everyone just did one little thing, the world would be a better place”. I found that moment very profound. A lesson learned somewhere along the way and an attitude that can inspire.

So, when I talk about how Freedom is built to put people first, to improve our community, to do good, it’s in the hope others might be motivated to act in kind and, in turn, do business with us so we can continue that mission. After all, one person can make a difference, why shouldn’t Freedom.

Favorite Things

You know what some of my favorite things are? When two people are walking down the sidewalk side by side and another couple approaches also walking side by side, I like when someone from each pair goes in front or behind the other, single file, so passing is easy. I like it when I see people walking through a parking lot, picking up trash and properly disposing of it even though it isn’t their trash.

Know what else? I like it when you hold a door for someone, and they say thank you or when you let someone in in front of you while driving and they give you a wave of appreciation. I think I like these things more than ever because they seem to be getting rarer and rarer. They shouldn’t be rare. They should be commonplace, common courtesy, common sense, whatever you want to label it.

It sometimes seems human beings have become an entitled bunch. Can’t get to the front fast enough, can’t wait, can’t understand, can’t talk, can’t empathize. As the Beatles song goes, “All through the day, I, me, mine. I, me, mine, I, me, mine”. I realize that doesn’t apply to everyone, but it sure seems more frequent than ever.

That’s why, at Freedom, we emphasize the little things. A greeting, a smile, a pleasant tone, a commitment to help, to serve and deliver a positive experience even if the face of difficult times. We can’t change the world, but we can do our part, and by our example, we encourage others to do the same.

Stronger Than Steel

Yin and Yang. Good and Evil. Positive and Negative. There are two sides in every situation. Sometimes you have to look very hard to see these opposite forces at play and sometimes, especially in times of difficulty, they are as clear as day. People say one cannot exist without the other; that you cannot know good unless you know bad, that you can’t experience joy without knowing sadness. There is a balance to nature and there will always be those dichotomies. Yet, I am ever hopeful that the balance will always weigh more heavily on the positive and we will see more similarities and good amongst ourselves than differences even though it is the differences that seem to be made more visible and given to louder, crueler voices. Such is life these days, I guess. However, in times of adversity, such as these recent days at Freedom, my hope has been renewed.

I have seen employees put everything aside, go above and beyond, to help those in need, quell fears, and answer questions. I have met members who have remained supportive, showed great understanding and patience because of the reputation we built and the trust we earned over the years. We have had numerous messages showing appreciation for our efforts, but I know that does not mean this situation wasn’t difficult or that it didn’t cause frustration. Every member of my family, myself included, experienced the same. However, one detour on the road does not stop the journey or end the mission. It simply emboldens us to carry on and strive harder. Even in the face of adversity and when others outside of Freedom or our membership use this as an opportunity to build up their own image by tearing us down, when they convey false information despite being told the facts; we persevere, we remain steadfast, professional and committed to our members and our community.

They say the strongest steel is forged by the hottest fires. It is pounded and struck repeatedly before it’s plunged back into the molten fire. The fire gives it power and flexibility, and the blows give it strength. Freedom is that steel. We are not defined by the trials we face but by how we come through them.

We greatly appreciate the support we have received. We appreciate the recognition that in 70 years nothing has tested us like this. We appreciate the opportunity to continue to serve and to earn your patronage and trust every day. We are a community institution, a not-for-profit cooperative committed to, and reliant upon, our members, our employees and our community. That will never change. So, as you stay the course with us, as you turn from negative emotions, as you ignore those opportunistic voices that would try to convince you otherwise, you will see that we are who we have always been; we are your partner, we are your advocate, we are your Credit Union.

We are Freedom.