I’ll admit it—when I was asked to write this column, I let out a big groan.
I write research papers; I don’t write creative “reflections.” I observe, research and analyze. So when I was asked to add color and give a taste of island life, I was less than enthusiastic.
What is “island life”? Island life feels like island life for about six months then it just becomes life. Waving to everyone, Down Street conversations and the ferry become the norm. I don’t think twice about waking up at 5:30 a.m. to get a line number or stopping by Go Fish to chat with Rachel. It’s just a part of my life.
Of course, I didn’t go from being confused by the ferry system to chatting with people on Down Street in one day. It’s not easy to break into the Vinalhaven community. People are very friendly and welcoming, but I’m from away and always will be, and that means there are some things I will never understand.
People love this island, take pride in where they live, and want to protect it. And who can blame them? Vinalhaven is an anomaly. People still stop by without calling; the whole town still comes out to celebrate our veterans on Memorial Day; and high school basketball is the talk of the town.
Honestly, when I moved here in September, I didn’t know if I would ever be a part of the community. Nine months later Vinalhaven is feeling more and more like home.
Last week I had the honor of presenting the work of the Vinalhaven Wellness Coalition to Island Institute trustees and the board’s program committee. I went into the meeting thinking I was going to give a matter-of-fact talk about community participatory-based methods, something similar to all those “scientific” presentations I gave just a year ago in college.
But something was different. As I began speaking, a wave of humility came over me. Suddenly it hit me that my presentation was not about technical processes or academics; it was about people and community. The working structure of the coalition involves being inclusive, having patience and building trust.
The content of my presentation was the perfect metaphor for how the Vinalhaven community has welcomed me, how people are patient with me, and how many people have put their faith in me.
Presenting in front of everyone, I was and still am truly humbled. In only a short period of time people have come to trust me as a leader. It was a beautiful experience to come to this realization. I walked away from the meeting feeling a little bit more like a part of the community.
So what is island life? I don’t know if it’s the ferry, or the lobster, or the people, but there is something that draws people to Vinalhaven and keeps them here. I can’t say I have found it, but there have been glimpses of it in my work with the Wellness Coalition. And maybe those moments are what make up island life—when you feel part of something bigger, when you feel a part of this independent, strong, special community.
Kelsey Byrd is an Island Fellow on Vinalhaven through AmeriCorps and the Island Institute.