The slogan “Make America Great Again” has been heard on repeat for years now, but here’s a real question we need to ask ourselves: Do we really mean it? Because if we do, it’s not going to happen through slogans or social media posts. It’s going to take something most of us aren’t prepared to give: sacrifice.

We’re talking about real changes to how we live and how we shop. Supporting your country means supporting your local economy—and that means breaking the chains of convenience. It means choosing the small, locally-owned businesses over the big names like Walmart, Amazon, Walgreens, or Temu. Yes, it might mean driving farther or paying a little more. Yes, it means investing your time and your energy in your community.

But here’s the thing: that’s what makes a country great—communities where people look out for one another, where money circulates locally, and where relationships are built through personal connections, not click-to-cart convenience.

Personally, I love this lifestyle. I’ll happily drive an hour out to visit a local farm. I pick my own produce, buy homemade jams, and treat myself to the fresh ice cream that some farmers whip up from their own dairy. This isn’t just about supporting a business—it’s about investing in a way of life. Many farmers across the South rely on this kind of support, and in turn, their success trickles through to local hair salons, pharmacies, diners, and more.

That’s how small-town economies thrive. That’s how America thrives.

Now, I don’t envy those living in the big cities. Yes, everything is at their fingertips, but at what cost? When your every need is one tap away, what’s left to chase? Where’s the reward in that? Humans weren’t made to live boxed into concrete towers, disconnected from the land, from their neighbors, and from their purpose. We were made to feel the earth under our feet, to take joy in a job well done, to seek and discover and share.

It’s no wonder mental health is in crisis. We’ve traded purpose for ease, and community for isolation.

So here’s my challenge to you—get out and do the work. Visit the farmers. Shop at the mom-and-pop corner store. Eat at the hole-in-the-wall restaurant instead of the chain. Talk to your neighbors. Attend the county fair, the church potluck, the school fundraiser. You’ll find more joy, more grounding, and more purpose in these simple acts than you will in any app.

Let’s not lose the gems that make this country worth saving. Share this article with your friends and family and let’s actually make America great—together.

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