I was one of the first to pop on to inmaricopa.com’s forum back when it came online. I’ve enjoyed posting the occasional comment, responding to the occasional challenge, and now I’ve spent most of my time just reading and listening to the voices.
One thing that has popped up is what I call the “Maricopa Malaise.”
Many of us moved here to start over, get a good deal on a house and perhaps even make some money. Many people I talk to mention how they thought moving to Maricopa would change things in their lives. They were seeking a new beginning, a fresh start.
However, what I usually wind up telling people is that moving somewhere or starting something new doesn’t necessarily solve the problems and troubles we face. Why? Because we bring them with us.
Behaviors are both learned and programmed. Some are learned from watching others, experiencing pain or pleasure. Others are programmed by some of the environment. That’s why the Bible says, “Train up a Child in the way that he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
What’s fascinating is that neuroscience is starting to figure this out. Looking at patterned behavior from a brain perspective, habits and addictions have whole bunches of neurons that have grouped to retrieve the information: memory, procedure, recall, recognition. Once those “neighborhoods” are built, they never go away.
Brains have an amazing ability to build new neighborhoods. There is a lot of debate about whether we really have memories trimmed off or they just are not able to be accessed as well. For example, stroke victims who have lost use of one side of the brain sometimes have the other side eventually learn how to pick up the slack.
All that to say is that to break out of the “Maricopa Malaise,” we need to build new neighborhoods and experiences. Get out and meet your real neighbors. Take the family out on walks in the evenings. Show up at City Council meetings and say a friendly “hello.” Attend your church or place of worship and volunteer.
Or if that’s not part of your belief system, volunteer at the local library or with Parks and Recreation.
You’ll be amazed at how over time, you’ll find that the Maricopa Malaise will “move on out.”
Chris Ward is pastor of Calvary Chapel and a chaplain with the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office.
Have an opinion you’d like to share with Maricopa? Please email it and any applicable photos to [email protected] for consideration. For more details, click here.
Submitted photo
