Bear Creek Plantation December 2017

Bear Creek Plantation Homeowners!
MAILBOX TAMPERING
When a mailbox is put into use for the purposes of sending and
receiving mail, it becomes federal property.
Mailbox tampering is considered any act that interferes with another
person’s letter box or other receptacle. This can include:
• destruction of the mailbox itself
• theft of mailbox contents
• the placement of items in a mail receptacle by persons
other than postal employees
• any action intended to obstruct or damage mail
or mailbox property
In short, anyone, other than mail recipients and postal employees,
should NOT touch a mailbox or its contents.
RECREATION CARDS
Bear Creek Plantation residents will now be able to apply for a
recreation card online at www.bcpcai.com through the community
website. Our new application can be found, once logged in, under
eforms. We will still accept applications which are emailed, mailed or
faxed; they can be found on the website under documents.
BE AWARE OF THEFT POTENTIAL
Many of us have a habit of leaving the garage door open when we are
working or relaxing in the backyard. Unfortunately, people in virtually
every neighborhood lose property to opportunistic thieves this way
every year. Bicycles and power tools are just a few of the commonly
stolen things and keep in mind that it only takes a matter of seconds
for something of significant value to “walk away.” Please keep those
doors down when you are not in eyesight of the garage.
ATTENTION RESIDENT-BUSINESS OWNERS
Do you have a professional service or product that the Homeowners’
Association can utilize for community improvements? If so, please
let us know what you have to offer and we will do our best to use
your business for future improvements to our neighborhood
when needed. We would rather the money from the annual dues
go to benefit our own neighbors when possible, rather than using
an outside business or vendor. We’ll also be happy to publicize
your business on our community Facebook page.
KINDNESS MATTERS
From: http://www.glgc.com/kindness/why.html
Why Be Kind? Kindness leads to many of the virtues to which we value
and desire and can lead us wherever we want to go: to a happier life,
to being more Christ-like, to enlightenment, to making a difference in
this world, to raising loving and kind children. The reasons for being
kind are innumerable. Here are just a few:
• Being kind feels good. Doing something for someone else really
does make us feel good. Just as running releases endorphins,
so does kindness. Make someone smile and you’ll feel better for
having done so.
• God smiles on kindness. Whether we are Christian, Jewish, Muslim
or Buddhist, kindness is an important part of the exhortations of all
these religions. Both Buddha and Christ were kind and encouraged
their followers to be likewise.
• Kindness broadens our perspective. In order to be kind, we have
to pay attention to what is happening around us. As we notice more
things and help others, we get a glimpse of other ways of looking
at things. A broader perspective helps us to keep things in context.
• Kindness softens our heart. When we look for kind deeds, beauty
and the opportunity for kindness, we’ll find that we are more compassionate
and more tolerant. As we practice empathy, it opens our
heart to others.
• Kindness brightens our world. When we are kind to people, it
makes them happy. The more people who experience kindness from
us, the more happy people will be in our lives. When those around
us are happier, our world becomes a brighter, lighter place to live.
• Kindness helps people feel respected and less alone. By recognizing
someone’s need for help and acting on it in a compassionate manner,
it makes the recipient feel valued. It also makes the giver feel better
about themselves and more connected.
• Kindness makes people want to be around us. One of the most
common responses to kindness is gratitude. People appreciate
what we’ve done for them. Our kindness is very attractive, so they
want to be around us and actually seek us out. The Buddha lists this
as one of the eleven impacts of loving kindness, but he put it even
more strongly, saying: “Loving kindness will make people love you.”
• Kindness bears wonderful fruit. Kindness begets kindness, openness,
health and reduces the effects of stress on our bodies and our
hearts. In many ways, kindness is like Liquid Plumber for the soul:
it opens us up, clears out the dross and dwells lightly in our hearts.
• Kindness begets kindness. When you are kind to others, the impact
of your action doesn’t stop there. Many times the recipient
of your kindness and others who see or hear about your kindness
are inspired to be kinder. The ripples of kindness are truly endless.
• Your kids will learn from your example. When you are kind to friends
and acquaintances, your kids will be more likely to be kind as well.
People often treat their children with kindness, but can be short with
a crazy driver, strangers or others outside the family. This can cause
“us and them” thinking that devalues others as “less” than ourselves.
Kindness breeds tolerance and understanding.
GET INTO THE HOLIDAY SPIRIT!
Feeling a little bah-humbug? Want to be the Grinch and stay that
way? It is OKAY! Not everyone can get into the holiday mood, but
you can at least try! Here are 10 ways to get into the holiday spirit!
1. Reach out to family and friends. Make phone calls to parents,
siblings, aunts and uncles, cousins, whomever you can reach. Ask
how they’re doing, exchange news and feelings and express your
love for them.
2. Decorate the house. Hang up lights in front of your house, put up
decorations, do everything! Hang wreaths on your front door and
put up flashy lights to show off your spirit! The more decorations
you have, the more festive you’ll feel!
3. Listen to holiday music. Listening to holiday music will pump
you up for the holidays! Play holiday music in the car, at home or
just when you have free time. As you listen, think of all the exciting
things that come with the holidays!
4. Volunteer. You will immediately see, feel and soak in how blessed
YOU ARE.
5. Throw a party! Have a get together with people you haven’t seen
in a long time and express yourself as much as you want. After all,
it’s the holidays, a period of celebration.
4 December 2017 | Community Newsletter