Our Lands by Bret Thomas

There is a strip of grass between my neighbor's house and mine that neither of us technically owns according to the way we mow it.

No fence separates our yards. No survey marker. Just an invisible line determined mostly by vibes and whoever tackled their lawn duties first.

That little stretch gets premium treatment. Extra water. Extra fertilizer. The kind of attention dads normally reserve for smoked meat.

Neither of us talks about it. There has never been a meeting. No HOA mediation. No passive aggressive neighborhood group post.

We simply understand that if this tiny patch dies, both of us look bad.

So we contribute.

And because we both care for it, the grass grows thicker there. Greener. Healthier.

Honestly, our lawns look bigger because of it.

I think America might work the same way.

Maybe this country is not simply property lines, flags, walls,

or arguing online with a guy named OutlawActual3085 whose truck selfie screams "rebel" despite the clearly fastened seatbelt.

Maybe it is shared space.

A giant patch of land borrowed by millions of neighbors at the same time.

People with different languages, traditions, playlists, recipes, religions, vacation photos,

and ongoing debates about fruit on pizza.

With all the differences between us and our neighbors,

maybe shared spaces thrive when treated less like arenas for conflict and more like the grass between two homes.

Maybe the best Americans we can be are the ones who understand that shared spaces are worth protecting.

The trails. The sidewalks. The neighborhood centers. The highway. The airports. The shared sky above them all.

Because shared spaces cared for well inspire pride in the people who live there and admiration from those just passing through.

Bret's Bio

Bret Thomas is a Central Florida native, designer, and creative living in Orlando, Florida. He enjoys writing humor, telling stories, and contributing to Orlando's creative community through mentorship and volunteering. Outside of work, he spends most of his time with his family, cooking, and finding inspiration through art, reading, and the people he meets.