Unleash the Nebraska Amazing!

Maybe It is the Weather… Nebraska Nice

“Nebraska Nice” and Midwest culture, in general, are rooted in a strong sense of community, humility, hard work, and friendliness. People in Nebraska and I assume much of the Midwest pride themselves on being polite, welcoming, and willing to help their neighbors.

Curious about how others define "Nebraska Nice," I turned to Urban Dictionary, which states: “Nebraska Nice is when a person is genuinely polite and courteous without having a hidden agenda.” I like that definition. In today’s world, people (like me) are polite and courteous only until they discover someone else’s affiliations or beliefs.

This led me to another thought: Webster's Dictionary defines a lady as "a woman of refinement and gentle manners" and a gentleman as "a man whose conduct conforms to a high standard of propriety or correct behavior." These definitions reflect the core values of Nebraska Nice, genuine kindness, respect, and a high standard of behavior.

The attached picture features Rotary 14, Nebraskan of the Year Committee that worked on the annual Nebraskan of the Year celebration. On Tuesday, April 1st, in preparation for the event honoring Joel Sartore, members of the Rotary 14 committee and Club members gathered at the event site before the luncheon. While there, I reconnected with a colleague, Mary Buckley. Mary and I had worked closely on previous Rotary events but had not seen each other as often lately.

It seemed very natural that the first thing we talked about was the weather. If you live in Nebraska, you know the weather is always a topic of conversation. One day, you are in a blizzard, and 24 hours later, it is 70 degrees. Is that only in Nebraska? We are not sure, but the ever-changing weather always keeps it on our minds.

Mary and I chatted for several minutes about the wind, the changing seasons, and the “joys” of living in Nebraska. As we laughed about our weather obsession, it occurred to us that this might be why Nebraskans seem to get along and enjoy coming together. Talking about the weather gives us a common, non-divisive topic, allowing us to connect without getting caught up in contentious debates. We agreed unanimously, noting that in places with consistently warm or temperate climates, without wind, people may talk more about current events, which can sometime lead to tension. Just maybe, our unpredictable weather helps keep Nebraska a more friendly place.

You may have seen photos from yesterday’s Nebraskan of the Year recognition, where Lincoln Ne Rotary 14 Club honored Joel Sartore, an extraordinary, internationally known photographer that hails from Nebraska. During his speech, Joel spoke about the work he loves and his "why", his mission to protect endangered species and make the world a better place. He also ended his short acceptance speech on something equally important: human relationships.

Joel reminded us that we all have a choice in how we spend our limited time on this earth, he hoped that it would revolve around good and building up not only our gifts from nature and natural resources, but each other. With so much divisiveness in the world, choosing to be good to one another, to find joy in our relationships, and to embrace kindness is essential. To embrace the differences that may exist between us and love our neighbors and start by engaging with one another.

Well said Joel. As I have learned growing up in Nebraska, if you cannot say something nice…talk about the weather.

Congratulations, Joel Sartore! You are an incredible photographer, an inspiring Nebraskan, and a true gentleman.

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ https://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Nebraska%20Nice