Dec. 14 -- Let's start this day by putting down the coffee cup, rising from your comfy seat and then clapping loudly while cheering wildly. No need to feel silly.
We know the Goldilocks Principle doesn't quite fit Northern New Mexico neighborhoods. Your neighbors are too close. Or too far away. There rarely is Just Right.
If you're in a too-close condo complex or subdivision, tell the neighbors to hoot and holler, too.
And if you're in a remote locale, text your neighbors the distant noise was you and not coyotes yipping away.
Why the need to do a standing ovation with no one looking?
It feels just right to celebrate goodness from Northern New Mexicans who aren't seeking the attention.
Today, we give a standing ovation to the Santa Fe New Mexican's 10 Who Made A Difference -- a 40-year, community-nominated initiative to honor those who contribute to our quality of life.
New Mexican reporters recently wrote about each honoree. (For subscribers, find our special section on the 10 Who Made A Difference in the e-edition.)
I encourage you to go beyond my short summaries to read more about these amazing volunteers:
Amy Adler is a sexual assault nurse examiner at Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center and board member of Solace Sexual Assault Services who brings a determined resolve to her work and community service.
Christine "Teeney" Bustos, a volunteer in countless roles in the Española Valley, lives by her mantra: "You can sit around and complain, or you can do something about it."
Nate Downey is an aquaponics evangelist who volunteers at the Santa Fe Community College program and has delivered 9,000 heads of lettuce to individuals and families in need.
Allyson Faehl (pronounced "fail," although she doesn't) has beaten cancer three times and is credited with organizing Christ Lutheran Church's Pallet shelter village for the homeless, which is the first in Santa Fe.
Flora Leyba, at 94 years young, remains a lifelong volunteer who has assisted shelters, senior centers and churches. Her deep faith combines well with her energy and bold approach.
Meghan Montelibano Gorman, founder of Santa Fam, has created a community for families, who appreciate her stream of useful information along with events such as Coffee & Crying meetups.
Maria Naranjo ministers to nursing home residents and is known as a longtime advocate for preserving the history of Northern New Mexico with an emphasis on her family's origins in Chimayó.
Louis Tilmont described himself as a directionless teen, but his career in software development set the stage for his plethora of activities in Santa Fe, including volunteer tutor, mentor, foster child advocate and foster pet parent.
Trash Pandas, a community group that organizes cleanups, reflects the power of togetherness to solve problems small and big. Consider this energetic team of volunteers in neon safety vests organized 50 cleanups that collected 13 tons of trash in 18 months. Whoa.
Ryan Williams, founder of the nonprofit Unhoused Art, has used his love of art and helping others to build an inclusive community that has found a home in the arts incubator Vital Spaces at 1600 St. Michael's Drive Annex in Santa Fe.
I've met all 10, and they are the real deals -- actually more than 10 since the Trash Pandas can fill a room (and clean it, too).
The New Mexican started honoring outstanding volunteers in 1985. The in-person ceremony took a pause after 2019 because of the pandemic. That may explain some of the built-up buzz as honorees and supporters gathered again Tuesday in the wonderful Santa Fe Room at La Fonda on the Plaza.
Everything about 10 Who felt special. The hospitality. The company. The significance.
The New Mexican's Matt Dahlseid put together individual video profiles of each recipient, with Inez Russell Gomez providing her distinctive narration. It's worth watching again and again.
It takes no effort to complain. So, it's worth channeling your inner Teeney Bustos: "You can sit around and complain, or you can do something about it."
So, stand -- and don't feel silly about it -- and applaud everyone who makes a difference in your life and our community. You won't be alone.