The days are starting to grow shorter with darkness arriving earlier every day. The leaves are quickly falling to the ground, leaving behind barren trees. And the summer’s colorful flowers have either withered away or been moved inside.

We will soon be in the dark, dreary days of winter. While I personally enjoy winter, it reminds us of why it is so important to have joy and even more specifically, something whimsical in our day to day lives.

What does whimsical mean? It can be playful, quaint, or fanciful. When I think something is whimsical, it brings a smile to my face. It can be the color. It can be the uniqueness. It can be the unexpected.

Think of the last time you visited a new community. You likely passed offices and houses that look like everywhere else. But was there something that caught your attention? What made you stop in your tracks and take notice? What made you whip out your phone to take a picture so that you could share this experience with everyone else.

Most likely it was something colorful. Most likely it was something fun. Most likely it was something unique.

Recently, I was on a bike ride with my friends on the Katy Trail, a rails-to-trails route across Missouri. We would peddle for a few miles and then stop at the small towns along the way. Nearly every town had something that we were going to take a picture of, admittedly some of our own making like standing in the window of a storefront posing as mannequins. Almost every community, regardless of size, featured something that helped us remember where we were, which is helpful because the towns do start to blend together after a while. Or the city featured something unique to their community, such as its history by bringing it to life with actors portraying their former residents walking down their main street on a Saturday morning.

Ultimately, every community needs something that would want to make a visitor take a picture and send it to others.

And having those whimsical points of interest or entertaining, fun events in a town are not just for visitors.

Installing bright, colorful art pieces brings joy to everyone, including the people who live there every day. Holding social events in a community brings friends and families together for the simple reason of just being together.

Now take a moment and think about what your community has that would make someone take a picture.

In McCook, we have a few. There are the giant stones in Norris Alley, which encourage people to sit and relax, especially when they are warm from the summer sun. They are unique and different, especially in the cement setting.

The bike rack at the high school in the shape of a bicycle was donated in memory of Tor Olson. Two more are ready to be installed, one at the new aquatic center and the other on Norris Avenue. The design is not exactly practical, in that the rack will only a couple bicycles but in exchange, they are eye-catching and bring joy.

The mural on West First continues to be dramatic and impressive, catching your eye every time you walk or drive past it.

These are all physical examples of whimsy, but whimsical can be a feeling in can make on your own too.

Just a walk around your neighborhood to intentionally notice the changing leaves, who has a new dog or someone with grandkids visiting can bring joy to your life. Maybe you’ve had a bike sitting in your garage for several years gathering dust. While the mornings are getting chilly, an afternoon bike ride can still bring back memories of your childhood and the joy - and freedom - you got riding around your block.

But as a community, we are more practical than playful but that is something we can - and need - to change. The McCook Creative District is working on a downtown revitalization plan, which will include artistic changes. Community Hospital is building a new apartment complex which will bring art and color to downtown. And there is hopefully more on the horizon.

There are numerous ways to be beauty and fun, joy and whimsy to our community. Some has to be intentional, such as including color or art to the exterior of our buildings or installing public art pieces on our downtown corers. Alternately, whimsy can be of our own making and if we are observant enough to notice the joy around us already. Either way, we can all benefit from a little bit more laughter, a little bit more joy, a little bit more whimsy.

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On a related note, Karrie Steely, who was a lead artist on the McCook mural, is looking for others to be part of the next mural project in McCook. They are just getting organized so if you would like to be involved, please contact Karrie at karrie.steely@gmail.com. You can help bring a bit more color and whimsy to our community.