Keep the positive energy moving forward

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By Matt Nicholson

American poet Walt Whitman said, “Happiness, not in another place but this place…not for another hour, but this hour.”

If you are a regular to this column, you know I will share some of my week before I get back to this thought.

I believe if last week had a word, it would be energy. Seymour currently has a lot of positive energy going around that is contagious.

I started another week with meetings related to a housing initiative that will help fill the cracks we have in our current housing availability. Over the last year, we have seen new developments for seniors, new projects for workforce housing and new starts for single-family residential all begin to pick up in our community.

These are all good steps toward the future of Seymour and beyond. Don’t forget to keep an eye on your local news source for future announcements as they reach that point.

Recently, Water Pollution Control received a new easement machine to cut down on the amount of time it takes to tackle some of our more remote manholes. While dragging a few hundred feet of hose doesn’t sound like much, it adds up in time and labor over the course of a year. While working with the crew from WPC, I had a chance to see the new machine in action and realize how much smoother it will make our processes.

During that visit, I was also reminded that everyone needs to take a deep breath and give crews room to work. While most in our community are patient, we still have a few close calls that could be avoided by just driving a little slower when you see those flashing lights.

The last highlight from my week I want to share is Emerson Elementary School had its second grade class president election. This is always a fun conversation to have with our future. Don’t underestimate kids. They pay attention even when you don’t think they are.

I get to talk about my role as mayor and how the election process works. I also take a chance to remind them that when it is all said and done, if they are in it for the right reasons, it is easy to shake hands and congratulate your opponent even if it wasn’t the outcome you wanted. Thank you, teachers, for the invites to discuss topics like this with our kids.

Now back to that quote from before. It is often easy to put those dreams off and say it can wait until tomorrow or that it is only possible in another place. I am here today to tell you no. Happiness can be had right here in beautiful Seymour, Indiana.

Many people have found what they are looking for in our community. They have also found that happiness at many different times over the years. Don’t let what used to be ruin what today is.

Downtown may never look exactly like it did 40 years ago. For that matter, it doesn’t look like it did last year. What it does look like, though, is an area that is rebounding rather well. Businesses are opening or relocating to the area. Visit them and see if you find something you like. That is how we keep this positive energy moving forward.

Hit one of the many restaurants for lunch or dinner, and don’t hesitate to park in one of our 400 free off-street parking spaces so you have a chance to walk and see up close and personal what is new.

We as a community are in a good place in many different areas. Take Walt’s advice from above and seek happiness in this place and time because as he also said, “Every hour of every day is an unspeakably perfect miracle.” Even if sometimes we don’t realize it for decades.

Matt Nicholson is the mayor of Seymour. Send comments to [email protected].

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