The News Editorial: Taking care of family

For the past several weeks my heart has been aching as I know it has for many in this community.

On any given day we can lose someone in our community but lately some of those losses have been sudden and/or tragic.

When tough times strike we support one another, we provide strength to others who may not have any to give at the time, we share a smile to someone who does not feel like smiling, we lend an ear when they are ready to talk and we are silent when they just want to sit in silence.

Now is the time to carry that support, encouragement, love and compassion forward each and every day.

If you see someone hurting, take a moment to stop and say hi. Ask how they are, but when you ask be prepared to listen, no matter how long it takes.

If you know someone is in trouble, help if you can, but if you are unable to help, tell someone who can help.

I think often times people don’t say anything because they don’t want to be wrong (maybe the person isn’t in trouble), they don’t want to embarrass the person (maybe the person has not realized they need help), they don’t want to be involved (you are already involved if you believe the person needs help).

We are a community, whether that is Worland, Ten Sleep, Washakie County, the Big Horn Basin, Wyoming or the United States of America. We are one community and that makes us family. We take care of family.

We show it during tough times, we need to show it every day, whether that is checking in on your elderly neighbor if they need anything at the store since you are headed that way, or maybe that is checking in on someone you feel is in a harmful relationship; or maybe it is just checking in on someone’s mental health.

Take a moment each day to check in on the people in your life and lend a helping hand, ear to listen or shoulder to cry on if you can.

--Karla Pomeroy