When we first considered Wilton as a place to live 10 years ago, my sister in neighboring Weston said, “Go to the center of town, go to Starbucks, go to the book store, talk to people and ask what they love about living in Wilton.”
I walked into the small, local book store (which sadly, is no longer there) and worked up my nerve to start a conversation with two customers and the store owner. “Excuse me, we’re thinking of moving to Wilton, and I’d like to know what you think about living here?”
I was floored as one of the customers spent the next 15 minutes delivering an extremely critical monologue about the town–she talked about entitlement, a lack of diversity, and privileged children. She said most people were unfriendly and elitist, and cited the high cost of living in Wilton. She said, “If I could have a do-over, I wouldn’t live here.”
I left the shop, crestfallen. The picture she painted wasn’t what I thought I saw as I walked around Wilton Center and drove around town with our realtor. I filed her words away and we chose Wilton despite her warning.
A few weeks after moving here, I stopped into the book store, introduced myself to the owner, and reminded her about my first visit to her store. She recognized me right away.
“I’m so glad you came back! I couldn’t say anything to criticize a customer, but I felt awful about what she said. Please know, that isn’t Wilton at all.” She talked about the many merits of living here–all the things we’ve since fallen in love with since ignoring those initial negative comments. Choosing Wilton as the place we’ve called home for the last decade is the place we can’t imagine leaving.
No town is perfect. There are drawbacks about every place that accompany the benefits. But that’s the thing–the positives far outweigh the negatives.
There’s been some buzz lately about a letter to the editor sent to the Bulletin that was very critical of Wilton. Recently, someone else posted on Facebook about a particularly ugly, racist comment she overheard one man make to an Asian family. As is often the case, the bad PR draws a lot more attention than the good.
But the GOOD is what’s important here. That’s why I created GOOD Morning Wilton, to shine that attention back on the decent, caring, supportive community that makes up the majority of Wilton. We’re approaching GMW‘s 4th Anniversary in August. In the last four years, we’ve published more than 4,300 stories, and most of them are about GOOD things that happen here–people helping the community by volunteering, raising money and extending a hand; organizations that make Wilton and the wider world a better place; businesses that open and succeed; children who are learning, accomplishing and also giving back; and so much more.
GMW exists not to ignore any not-so-positive things about Wilton, but to help counteract them. It was founded on the belief that the more people read about what’s good, the more they’re motivated to help make Wilton even better.
No one knows what’s GOOD about Wilton like the people who live here. We want to hear from you about all the things you think are GOOD about our town. Tell us, so we can help other people who are moving here, like me 10 years ago, to see what’s GOOD about Wilton. To help remind ourselves about what’s important to remember and maintain about the town. To learn from negative events when they happen and push back against letting the ugly, the divisive, the critical grow unchecked.
Below, please tell us what you love about Wilton. Forward the article to Wilton friends and share on social media so we hear from as many people as possible about all that’s GOOD about Wilton. If you’d consider being interviewed, please include your email address (optional). We’ll publish the results in an upcoming issue.
Thanks for the last four years, from GMW, and thanks too for the last 10 years from me.
What’s so GOOD about Wilton?
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