A true patriot

This September, our country paid homage to a true patriot, John McCain. While not all might have agreed with his politics, the bipartisan response to his death, made public in a series of heartfelt eulogies delivered by Democrats and Republicans alike, spoke volumes about his life of service to his land he loved.

And in the example he set is inspiration to reach a little higher and try a little harder in our own life of service to our fellow Utahns. Here are a few ways we can all become better stewards of our communities, our state and our country.

• Community service not only improves life for others, but also improves your own health. So while you’re performing random acts of kindness, donating blood at the local blood bank and mentoring at-risk students at the neighborhood schools, your body responds with a burst of the neurochemicals that researchers call a “helper’s high.” There’s a reason John McCain nearly always had a smile on his face.

• Make your voice heard. Not everyone is inclined to run for office, and it certainly takes a special breed to maneuver their way through Washington, D.C. But that doesn’t stop us from speaking out, whether it is in the voting booth, standing up against injustices or rolling up our shirt sleeves and becoming part of the solution. We can each make a difference!

• Bring the kids along. Already, Utah tops the nation in charitable giving and in the highest volunteer rate, according to WalletHub. And with our children, we have the chance to pay it forward, preparing a new generation to fill our shoes. Start with an attitude of gratitude, recognizing the blessings in our own lives. Then take it a step further and return the favor, with your kids by your side. Maybe it’s raking leaves for an elderly neighbor or ladling soup at the local shelter. The details don’t matter; it’s all about planting the seed.

We may never again see the likes of John McCain in our lifetime. But the greatest nod we can give to all he stood for is carrying on, in our own way at UASD and in our communities, his love of his country and fellow Americans.