These days, with so much economic greed and political meanness in the news, it’s hard to lift your head up and notice the common goodness and community spirit that’s actually flourishing all around us.

So, this Thanksgiving season, why not shake off some of that debilitating negativity by focusing on the many, seemingly-small efforts by ordinary people who’re helping to make life just a little bit better… more connected… more joyful even! Consider, for example, a very neighborly phenomenon presently spreading across our country: “Repair Cafes.”

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The idea is simple and practical – rather than trashing that broken lamp, torn pair of jeans, wobbly chair, or blinking electronic device – repair them! Only, we’ve become a nation that doesn’t know how, and our corporate consumer economy – based on planned obsolescence – tells us to just throw it all away.

But that ignores a marvelous community asset: Grassroots talent. Every neighborhood and small town is blessed with many locals who’re “good with their hands.” So, in some 200 American communities, volunteer crews of these skilled repairers gather weekly or monthly, inviting us “under-skilled” folks to bring in practically any of our household “junk” to be fixed – for free – rather than sending it to the landfill.

There is one requirement though – we have to watch, listen, and participate in the repair, so we learn to trust our own hands… and maybe teach someone else later on. These repair cafes don’t merely provide a community service, they create community. Stuff gets fixed, but most importantly, as a café founder in East Harlem puts it, as “mostly we just spend time together.”

Why not do that where you live? For guidance, go to RepairCafe.org.

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