Love it or hate it, it's part of the season and it will be here soon.
For years the Main Street Christmas tree in Maidstone has sat in the centre of the town's busiest intersection. It isn't city busy, but in a quiet little town it is the crossroads where a person is most likely to have to wait for a few cars to pass and cross.
Over the years I've lived here, I've heard complaining about the tree being in the way, about it being too full or not big enough, and about the inconvenience when the snow piles join it while the streets are being cleared. I've even found myself frustrated when I had to wait a little longer because it was a little harder to see what was going on in the rest of the street.
It's lit amidst great excitement on Santa Claus night and adds a touch of sparkle throughout the season and I've been glad to see it glowing, especially on the coldest and quietest days. I've heard the talk but didn't know if anyone else did.
This week in our mailbox there was a survey about the tree.
It asked where the tree should be placed with several options available and different ways to make opinions known. I'm pretty sure if it stays in the same place there will be complaints and if it moves there will also be words, but for me the positive note is the consultation.
Communication is one of the biggest challenges I face. Misunderstandings in all areas of my life and work tend to occur when assumptions are made or voices aren't heard.
In a community there are times when we do have the opportunity to make our opinions count. I've attended some consultation meetings with long reaching consequences and wondered why more people weren't there. There are occasions when people agree with a proposal or don't care either way and stay silent and times when we fume in silence and no one knows.
Communication is hard, it means being vulnerable and having to accept not always getting what a person wants.
I haven't heard where the tree will go this year but I did cast my vote. I shared where I would like to see it and where I wouldn't. I am grateful for the opportunity to live in a democratic society where even the little things bugging people can be discussed and where people care enough to allow others to be heard.
