Sometimes, I find all of the bad stuff I hear overwhelming. It’s so easy to get swept up in negativity. It is contagious. People love to complain about other people, their jobs, the country, the government, etc. The list goes on and on. It is draining and makes life and the people who complain difficult to deal with.

So, why not focus on the good things? Accentuate the positive. It’s the positive things that often get overlooked. Here’s a list of some good things happening in our little corner of the world.

Philanthropy is well and alive in our town. Our community is a giving one. The Jane B. Weilenbeck Needy Family Fund is one great example of how our community comes together to help each other. This organization supported by school district employees, students, parents, residents and local groups provides Thanksgiving turkeys, Christmas gifts, school supplies and gift cards to the needy families in town.

This summer, Fashion Bug in Cinnaminson is helping out with the back pack project. Fashion Bug will be collecting back packs and school supplies during their “Fill the Bus” campaign which will run from July 1 through July 28. Those who donate will receive $10 bonus coupons. 

In addition to organized groups, many residents volunteer their time in various ways to benefit the people of Cinnaminson. Park cleanups took place this year and last year. Moms and dads volunteer as coaches and leaders for various sports and social groups. There is a strong sense of community in Cinnaminson if you look for it.

Cinnaminson has several long standing local businesses run by people who make a difference and give us that small town feel. Brothers Pizza has been around since I was in grade school. We used to ride our bikes to Brothers for pizza and a game of Ms. Pac Man. The same family is still there baking and serving up one of the best pizzas in town.

D'Angelo’s has been around for close to 20 years and I know this because my husband and I used to meet there every Wednesday for lunch before we got married. Wednesday was pay day so we would go to Hudson City Bank and deposit our checks and talk to Dottie at the bank and then visit Maurice for a slice of pizza, a soda and a chat.

Paula’s Family Restaurant is another place where the owner, Ali, personally welcomes his customers and will sit down and share a joke. We may not have a Main Street but we’ve got some nostalgia and personality here in Cinnaminson.

Rosvold Pharmacy is a another local business that gets rave reviews from so many people regarding their helpfulness and understanding especially when it comes to young children. My friend Jacquie, a Cinnaminson mother of two, recently told me a story about how the pharmacist went out of his way to help her daughter take medicine she was refusing to take.

Alpha Dental has been a staple in Cinnaminson since the '70s. I went there as a kid and many of the same people still work there. It makes me feel comfortable to bring my kids to the same practice I went to as a child.

Besides local restaurants and businesses, our schools are not too shabby. Regardless of what anyone says, they are getting the job done. Our test scores are competitive; we have a high percentage of students moving on to college. This year, we have a graduate who was awarded a scholarship to MIT and many students plan to study at renowned colleges. Someone is doing something right.

For those who want to argue this point, I acknowledge that our schools are not flawless, but are any schools for that matter? The important thing is that they are proactive and constantly changing and rearranging to make the district better for the varying needs of our students. One thing I love about our district is that it is big enough to provide diversity yet small enough to provide that private school kind of feeling.

Our parks are pleasant and they’ve all just had some great updates. All residents may not agree on the upgrades but there are many who are enjoying the new snack bar, play equipment, the gazebo and the sledding hill.

Wood Park is busy and it’s incredible to see all that is happening there this summer. I was just there for my girls’ field hockey practice and Cinnaminson’s outdoor basketball league had games going on, the softball fields were busy with parent/child games, and the swings and play equipment were being used.  

The music and movies at Wood Park are great family functions which help families and friends bond as a community. Activities for children abound and most recently, field hockey and lacrosse leagues have been added to our repertoire of sports for Cinnaminson’s younger set. 

Cinnaminson may not be perfect but I can attest that many who grew up here come back to raise their families. Something positive is pulling them back. Yes, many complain that it isn’t like it used to be but are there any towns that are? I imagine people are complaining in every town, in every city of every state. But, complaining doesn’t change things. It just creates unhappiness.

Cure the epidemic of negativity by focusing on the positive. Constructive changes make a difference. Stop looking at the glass as half empty, flip it around, find the positive, change your outlook and fill that glass back up with positive experiences, thoughts and feelings.

“Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference.” Winston Churchill