I am amazed at how often Reporter letters are filled with complaints about Auburn. Two recent writers focused on weeds, and one concluded that yards with weeds make Auburn “an unsavory place to live.”

I’ve come to the conclusion that people see their world through the lenses they choose to put on, and my husband and I choose to look through more optimistic lenses.

Auburn is a diverse city, welcoming many more immigrants and providing more low-income housing than other communities. This results in many challenges since this population often doesn’t yet possess the social skills needed to thrive.

But every challenge offers opportunities. We seldom know another’s circumstances, but a heartfelt offer of help when it appears help is needed, is seldom rebuffed nor resented.

Perhaps you could help someone learn English or volunteer to read with a child struggling in school. Maybe you could combine exercise with service and pick up trash on your street or throughout your apartment complex. Or get together a few friends to help with others’ yard work or even the curbs in front of a business. Couldn’t you be that person who does the small things that can make Auburn a better community?

We love living in Auburn, where we’re greeted with smiles from total strangers and given outstanding service (and even hugs) from our local businesses. We enjoy the parks, the community garden, the dedication of the CERT volunteers and the community events, as do many other residents.

It may simply be the lenses we choose to look through, but, for us, Auburn is much more than we imagined.

– Karen and Larry Shepherd