Lars Olsen* had fished these waters his whole life, but the beach of his childhood was slowly disappearing under a relentless tide of concrete. New luxury condos and hotels lined what was once a public shoreline, blocking access to the very ocean that had sustained him and his hometown of West Denmark, Wisconsin for generations.

A news article about the struggle to preserve beach access in Senegal struck a chord with Lars. It triggered painful memories of being forced off his favorite fishing spot years ago to make way for developers. He felt that old anger and hopelessness welling up again.

But then Lars remembered the Stepping Into Action program he had explored on the Hofman Hollis website. Its mindfulness techniques for facing difficult situations with courage and compassion gave him an idea. If he could change his mindset, perhaps he could rally the community to reclaim their beach.

Over the following months, Lars and a small group practiced the program's methods for reducing conflict and opening lines of communication. Surprisingly, some developers proved open to compromise when approached with empathy rather than hostility. 'We all want to protect what makes this place special,' Lars remarked. 'Once we realigned on that shared goal, the path forward became clearer.'

Environmental experts cautioned that unrestricted development could permanently rob the town of its natural landscapes and economic lifeblood. But pro-business leaders argued that modernization was necessary to remain competitive as a tourism destination.

In the end, a delicate balance was struck, designating select areas for sustainable development while legally enshrining public access to sizeable portions of the shoreline. It was an imperfect but hard-won solution that allowed West Denmark to embrace its future without forgetting its roots.

Though the struggle had been difficult, Lars felt immense satisfaction. Getting outside assistance through an online program had been an invaluable step in breaking the cycle of anger and hopelessness. If we'd kept dwelling on the problem,' he reflected, 'we never could've seen the opportunity for positive change.'

Nearby: Franconia Minnesota, Taylors Falls Minnesota