Be A Civility Champion
Can we talk? My name is Mary Jane McKittrick. (old photo) For more than a decade I’ve been writing stories about cartoon characters living in and around the fictional Shady Pines Story Town.
While the number of residents of Shady Pines has grown along with the number of locations in town, the intent of this project has always been the same: To inspire young children and the adults who love them to be good and kind.
The humans and animals of all ages and backgrounds living in this small Southern town tell stories with positive messaging infused with life lessons and delivered with gentle and sometimes wacky humor.
Their mission is to ‘Restore Civlity One Kind Gesture at a Time!’
Often situations that happen in the “real world” are reflected in this fictional world. Our characaters 
talk about everything from severe weather outbreaks and national holidays to current events in a way that young children appoximately 6-9 years old can understand. It’s also an opportunity for their caregivers to start a discussion on these topics.
Time For Change
Sadly, a groundswell of violent events and verbal sparring in this high octane politcal environment has shown us just how much we need civility right now. 
More than ever we’ve got to modify and soften the national tone. Otherwise we are doomed to sink further into the abyss of mean-spiritedness, mockery and division.
I can tell you that kind of negativity is not the Shady Pines Way. Our characters discover how to work together to find solutions to problems. They believe in cooperation instead of confrontation. Anger and hatred are not tolerated. Kindness and caring are celebrated.
For a long time I stopped using the word civility in my marketing. Do you know why? So many people kept telling me Civility is dead in America. Ugliness, they said, has taken hold and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Let’s Spread Good News
Well I have news for you. It shouldn’t be that way and it’s not in Shady Pines Story Town because we haven’t given up on the hope that “real world” communities should strive to be more like this one.
And in case you’re wondering this site has no agenda – political or otherwise. For more on how it got started you can read The Back Story 
The truth is, we’re just trying to encourage and uplift. We want to underscore the urgent need to restore a gentler way of communicating with one another that transcends all boundaries and ideologies.
I hope you feel the same. Here’s our call to action:
Please join us in spreading the word as we continue our national award-winning quest to promote Civility. Share this post on your social 
media or by email. Talk to friends and loved ones about the need for change.
And most importantly, thank you for listening!
Right on the mark. I am so sick of all the anger and division. Enough already. Time for the Shady Pines approach
Thank you so much for you comment Jane. Really appreciate it!
Great message. We all need to listen to this and practice it!
Love It! Very needed message!
Now more than ever, Shady Pines can lead, by example, the way to a kinder, more compassionate world. Wishing you great success with this new direction!
Thank you so much Candace. Really appreciate it!
So happy that you have brought back civility. It will spread!
Mary,
Thank you for this message
I hope it inspires everyone to take a step back and breathe before using words and actions that will hurt.
Trish thnk you. I love your message to: “take a step back and breathe before using words and actions that will hurt.”
Thank you Amy. From your mouth to God’s ear!
I am so glad you wrote this. I kept thinking am I the only one who believes the madness and the hate speech has got to stop? Clearly in Shady Pines things are different. We should all be more like that community
Well said Mary Jane! Kids and adults need to hear this message loud and clear!
Wonderful message! Every school district would benefit greatly if they would add this to their curriculum. Change does begin with each of us and children will follow. Thank you for writing this very timely and meaningful post.
Teresa thank you for saying that. It’s the generation now and the ones to follow that we need to nuture. Appreciate you!
Thank you for writing this post. Civility has been lost in the toxic shuffle hasn’t it? I’m so glad you are pounding the drum to make us all get more active.
A very thoughtful and well written post! It comes at a critical time, and triggers soul searching to figure out how each one of us can create a kinder, gentler environment.
Thank you Sheri. It’s a tall order and I do hope we are up to the challenge!
Shady Pines you rock. I couldn’t agree more with your message. Let’s spread the word!
Couldn’t agree more.
We need to get rid of partisan – toxic- nasty – vicious – etc.
We need civility – bipartisan – friendly – etc.
I hope and pray we can find a way to get there.
Thank you Frank. Loved your response!
Love this idea and your post. Yes, civility is scarce, and we all should strive to demonstrate civility in speech and actions; if you can’t be civil, at least be quiet.
Thank you Suzanne. “It you can’t be civil at least be quiet.” I like that
I too am inspired to be better. Maybe we need a “Shady Pines” for adults! It starts with the children so please keep up with your wonderful writings.
Thank you Barbara for the encouragement. Please do share this post with family members
I love this. I’m inspired to try harder. Let’s make our communities a little more like Shady Pines.
Thank you Elaine!
Truer words have never been spoken – may we all strive to be more like the inhabitants of Shady Pines!
Thank you Joanne. I appreciate it!
What a timely post. Very well said. I agree. The tone has got to change. And change begins with each of us doesn’t it?
Thank you for doing this. I’ve been concerned like most people that we are devolving into something I don’t even recognize. Yes I’ll share you post and its important message