Social media is a game changer. For those readers not familiar with “viral” in any context but a cold, it works like this: I write an article. You read it. You share it on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, and LinkedIn.
(If there’s a photo, you may share on Pinterest and Instagram!)
Your friends see what you shared. They’re impressed because you are so smart. Your friends share the article. Then friends of your friends share.
Result? I get my message out to a gazillion people and you helped me do so! If I was selling a product, you’d be making me a millionaire!
Unfortunately, I don’t write to make money.I write to help people become informed about our community, raise awareness of issues, praise the good and condemn the not so good. I try to educate without preaching, share the joy without simpering, and inspire action to replace inertia.
More than anything, I want to engage you in the business of living life in Prince William County. I think it is important to get away from the television that is dulling your vibrant thoughts and get out here in your community to interact with your neighbors and find some worthy causes that deserve your attention.
Not everyone wants to go tramping through muddy creeks or walking along busy highways picking up litter. (I know, right? Who wouldn’t want to do THAT?) So maybe volunteering for an environmental group or the VDOT Adopt a Highway program isn’t for you.
Perhaps you have young children and you are volunteering for their soccer games or for the PTO. That’s great news, but I still ask you to step outside your family circle into the community circle. I received an email from a gentleman the other day, concerned for his three girls. Here is part of that email:
“I am looking for some volunteer opportunities for my family that would involve homeless and helping those that are hungry. We could help at a food bank but I would like my children to experience how it feels to directly help those in need. I fear that they are becoming too insulated to the challenges that most families deal with on a daily basis”
I am so appreciative of people like the author of that email and I was glad to connect him with some organizations and activities that will help him and his daughters fulfill their mission. More than anything I was thrilled to know somebody out there gets it! Even if I can’t coerce you into participating in an event, joining an organization, volunteering for some group, at the minimum, you can share information.
Everyone can do that. PotomacLocal.com makes the sharing so easy by providing buttons to click at the end of the column. Use them to help spread content and create viral without using a box of tissues!
Recent Stories
On Sunday afternoon, nearly 100 people gathered in a Taco Bell parking lot less than a mile from the clinic’s doors with a shared aim: taking ownership of its now-precarious future.
The project to widen Balls Ford Road between Doane Drive and Ashton Avenue to a four-lane, divided roadway is now officially complete. The county’s Department of Transportation held a ribbon-cutting ceremony in the parking lot of the General Shale Brick Company last week.
Another round of weather challenges is in store today as a robust cold front approaches. The front will bring gusty winds and low relative humidity.
Join us on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 2:00 p.m., for the dedication of the Town of Occoquan’s LOVEworks sign in River Mill Park (415 Mill Street, Occoquan), designed by artist Darby Leondra. This event is free and open to the public.
To celebrate Air Quality Awareness Week (May 6-10, 2024), Clean Air Partners is working with A Few Cool Hardware Stores to exchange DC, Maryland and Virginia residents’ gas-powered lawnmowers, trimmers, and leaf blowers at select Ace Hardware locations in the region. DMV residents who turn in their gas-powered lawn tools will receive a FREE Ego Power+ replacement including batteries and chargers, while supplies last.
Compared to gas, electric lawn equipment can reduce emissions, noise pollution, health risks and maintenance costs and time. The program aims to remove about a hundred gas-powered polluting tools from yards in the greater Baltimore-Washington region.
The exchanges will take place the weekends of May 17-19, 2024, and May 31-June 2, 2024, at A Few Cool Hardware Stores network of employee-owned Ace Hardware stores in the DC and Baltimore metro areas. To participate and get your free Ego Power+ lawn tool, sign up at https://qrco.de/CAPExchange to reserve your tool and select your trade-in date and location.
Are you feeling overwhelmed by life’s challenges? Do stress and anxiety seem to dominate your thoughts? At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand that navigating mental health can be daunting, but you don’t have to do it alone.
Our team of compassionate therapists is here to guide you on your journey toward inner peace and emotional well-being. With a client-centered approach, we tailor our therapy sessions to meet your unique needs and goals. Whether you’re struggling with depression, coping with trauma, or simply seeking personal growth, we provide a safe and supportive space for healing and growth.
Embark on a path of self-discovery with our comprehensive range of therapy services, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, and holistic approaches. Our experienced therapists are dedicated to helping you cultivate resilience, develop coping skills, and foster a greater sense of self-awareness.
Free Irish Music Concert
Welcoming Spring with music from the Emerald Isle, the New Dominion Choraliers offer a FREE concert on Saturday, April 27 at 7:30 p.m. at the First United Presbyterian Church of Dale City.
Joined by Legacy Brass and members of Old
Spring Ceili: An Irish Music Festival
The New Dominion Choraliers of Prince William County and McGrath Morgan Academy of Irish Dance invite you to join them at our Ceili, a grand celebration of Irish music and dance.
A gathering of performance groups throughout Prince William County
