To the editor:

As an entrepreneur in Barton County, especially after some recent local discussions online, I can say the negativity surrounding our communities and small businesses feels heavier than it has in a long time. Seeing that has made me reflect on my own experiences and why so many people eventually step back from community involvement altogether.

A few years ago, I started the Ellinwood Small Business Roundtable as a grassroots effort to bring together local small business owners, especially those of us who rely on tourism and local foot traffic. The goal was simple: support one another, collaborate, share ideas, and help strengthen our community together. Eventually, we even took steps toward becoming a nonprofit organization because we believed in the long-term potential of that work.

What I didn’t expect was how personally difficult that process would become.

Criticism comes with putting yourself out there, and I understand that. But at times it went beyond constructive criticism and felt deeply personal. Motives were questioned, assumptions were made, and the experience became emotionally exhausting. As someone who struggles with both mental health challenges and Lupus, a disease heavily impacted by stress, I eventually stepped away from organizing and shifted my focus back onto my own business and family.

That experience changed me. It changed how willing I was to continue stepping into community-focused leadership roles, even though I genuinely believed in the idea that “a rising tide lifts all boats.”

I also think it’s important to recognize that accountability is not the same thing as negativity. Asking questions, speaking up after being directly impacted, or advocating for fairness and transparency are not inherently harmful things, especially when organizations and leadership decisions can directly affect local businesses and livelihoods. The way we approach those conversations matters.

At the same time, constant cynicism, tearing businesses down, or speaking hopelessly about our communities absolutely has an impact too. As a business owner, I know firsthand how exhausting it can feel to constantly hear people talk about why nothing here is worth supporting while simultaneously wondering why communities struggle to grow.

None of us are going to handle every situation perfectly, myself included. But I do think we all have a responsibility to consider how we engage with one another, especially in small communities where words carry farther than we realize.

I still love our small towns, and I still believe in the potential here. I just think it’s worth remembering that the way we speak to and about one another can directly impact whether people continue investing their time, energy, and heart into trying to make things better.

Jennie Andersen

Ellinwood