When my wife Jill and I were new to the island, along with our rambunctious toddler, we tried — not always successfully — to steer clear of the ferry vending machines. The tantalizing snacks might have looked like abundance, but we didn’t really need them.

Do you ever feel that you have a wealth of choices but none will provide what you really need? That the most important options are not before you? I think of this as the difference between empty abundance and true abundance, a distinction that has shaped both my own life here and the role our new Vashon-Maury Community Council (V-MCC) can play in shaping our shared future.

Empty abundance is a plethora of things, experiences, or contacts that have little real satisfaction or depth. We might eat loads of highly processed, calorie-rich food, like those ferry vending machine snacks, but we’ll miss out on true nutrition. We can scroll endlessly through social media or binge-watch shows, yet we gain little meaningful connection or insight. We might buy things for a momentary thrill, only to end up surrounded by clutter. We might court lots of acquaintances without ever forming the kind of friendships that truly sustain us.

Quantity all too often overshadows quality, and we can end up feeling busy with things that don’t provide lasting satisfaction.

True abundance, by contrast, is intentional and often inconvenient. It’s achieved when we choose carefully, invest our time in what matters, and preserve what is good. It’s eating nutrient-dense, healthy foods. It’s seeking out media that teaches, inspires, or challenges us. It’s seeking out work and projects that reflect our values and create lasting benefits, rather than just filling our schedules.

True abundance is leaning into relationships built on trust and shared purpose, celebrating the diversity of our voices, learning our strength through collective action, and protecting our island through conservation and sustainable practices, while welcoming progress that honors our deepest values. True abundance is strategic, nourishing, and deeply authentic — something we can create not just as individuals, but together.

That’s where V-MCC comes in. Participation in the Council is more than just attending meetings. It is a way to put the principles of true abundance into action.

On a personal level, it’s a place to build meaningful relationships and work with neighbors on shared challenges and opportunities. It gives us a chance to focus our energy on purposeful projects, such as land use, transportation, emergency readiness, the arts and more. And it encourages mutual growth as council members learn from one another.

The benefits ripple outward. Our Council can guide decisions toward sustainability by protecting natural resources, supporting a diverse local workforce, and championing renewable energy. We can strengthen community well-being by collaborating with other island organizations on needs such as mental health, affordable housing, and social connection. And we can uphold democracy and equity by ensuring that every islander feels included and heard in shaping our future together.

Even on this island, surrounded by such beauty, it can be easy to drift into busyness rather than meaning, to seek surface-level connection while missing the human richness underneath. Our V-MCC is a community forum that helps us move from empty abundance to true abundance, so that we flourish not just as individuals, but as a resilient, thriving island community.

We’d love to have you be a part of this mission. Our Community Council meets monthly every third Thursday from 7-9 p.m. at the Land Trust Building and via Zoom. Visit v-mcc.org/events for meeting details, or email info@v-mcc.org for more about how you can get involved.

J.C. Graham is president of the Vashon-Maury Community Council. He can be contacted directly at President.V-MCC@proton.me.