Being competitive is one the many behaviors that make us human.
Throughout our lives we compete for all kinds accolades. Whether it’s a youth basketball trophy, a spelling bee certificate, the attention of others, or simply to better our previous best mark at a task. Competition drives us to do our best in all kinds of arenas.
But sometimes competition has negative connotations.
The response to Hurricane Helene has shown us the ugly side of competition.
Following what has been the most devastating hurricane in the history of Western North Carolina, countless community groups, organizations, churches, and nonprofits have stepped up to help people in need. Taking donations, and delivering them to communities from Asheville to Burnsville and beyond has become a common practice.
While those efforts are to be commended, and the items collected are absolutely needed by people who lost their cars, homes, and in many cases livelihoods, the well-meaning work of multiple organizations across the region has turned into a competition in a lot of ways.
The battle for recognition is never ending – even when the mission is to do good for those less fortunate than ourselves. Organizations and individuals desperately trying to get an extra pat on the back for their efforts have at times raced to get into the spotlight, as if doing the right thing isn’t rewarding enough.
The needs of the folks who lost everything are going to change and evolve as the cool fall days turn to cold winter nights. With electricity still a far-off dream for many, and significant repairs needed to water, sewer, and cellular phone infrastructure over the coming weeks and months, hard hit areas will be relying on their neighboring communities more than ever.
Let’s make Highlands and Cashiers two communities that do the most good possible, while not crying out for attention. We shouldn’t be competing for thank you’s and “likes” in times like these. The people who need our help aren’t going to care who gets the credit.