The Village Within

What is a Village?

A village is derived from a French term referring to a group of buildings or a small settlement usually found in a rural area.

I grew up practically in the city. There was definitely a group of buildings around. Low-income housing with a local market that everyone was posted up at. You also had your local pharmacy and drug store. There were neighbors who looked out for one another. Children actually played outside. We were forced to come in before it got dark. The sun wasn’t as hot then.

Why does it cost to pay attention? Look around you. Playgrounds have turned into Condos. No more local markets. No more local pharmacies. Low income housing turned into expensive hotels with valet only options. Local schools have transformed into high rise apartments with no balconies. Children don’t play outside anymore. Electronics are raising the children. The adults are busy now working from home while children are at home. The times have changed.

That village could have consisted of watching after one another. Sometimes the village mothers would check the children for acting out of pocket. Stern-faced but loving under the surface. These mothers also took care in keeping the neighborhood clean, tummies fed, healing with laughter, music being played on the back porch and keeping the peace.

The village from my childhood taught me how to keep the peace, heal with laughter, use music to change the atmosphere, fed households and help raise children. Also, in the same environment they taught me how to not take bs just because. Rather we know it or not, those same morals are strongly encouraged today.

The word “settlement” can describe what most inner-city people have done. Found land in a rural area and settled there. LOL.

So again the question was.

What is the so-called “village”?

The village never left.

It just got shifted.

Regardless of location, time or space the village is within you.

Never forget that.

~Violet Flower~