Today, I want to ask a couple of questions.

Why do you have this problem? It doesn’t matter which problem you are thinking about.

Now ask yourself, “What do you want instead of this problem?”

Now that I have your brain moving, let me share some of my recent adventures serving as the mayor of the best small town in America.

May 11 is the 25 annual Day of Caring here in Jackson County. This has been one of my favorite events to be involved in over the years. A few years ago, it peaked with more than 1,000 volunteers with hundreds of projects all working together on the same day to make an impact here in Jackson County.

Last year, due to COVID, the numbers were down, but the event still happened. For 2021, Jackson County United Way is still planning on having a great day, even if it has to look different.

The organization is still looking for those needing help with a project. If you have something you need labor getting done, reach out to Jackson County United Way for details. The normal answer is they don’t do roofs, but they do so many other things I would hate to try to list them all.

If the person making the request for help can provide the materials, they can bring the labor. Nonprofits, elderly residents and so many other organizations have benefited over the last few decades from this event, and this year will be no different.

Are you a part of a group that is looking for a way to give back? No problem. Day of Caring is looking for volunteers. Groups or individuals also can reach out to Jackson County United Way to learn more.

Recently, I had a chance to do my favorite part of my role as mayor and talk to the future of Seymour. This time, it was with the third-graders at Immanuel Lutheran School. We talked about government, I shared parts of my day-to-day role with them and we even had a chance to discuss the possibilities that exist and how the world is wide open for them to do amazing things.

I always try to get the kids to remember they are the future of not just Seymour but really the world. Thank you, teachers, for giving me a chance to spend some time with your classes. I really enjoy it.

My weekly visit with a department was most recently with parks and recreation. I had several things going on that day, but we did get a chance to check out some of the recent happenings during my visit.

The pickleball court base is coming along nicely. Many small projects, like mulch near the John Mellencamp mural, have been installed. Thanks to the crews from parks and recreation for all you do to keep our facilities looking great.

Now back to those first couple of questions. The first one just focuses on the problem. The second one focuses on the outcome. While we do have to acknowledge the problem, dwelling on it does not help us get to the next steps toward a better tomorrow. Instead of feeling stuck, we start to develop actions and energy as we look to the future and focus on the outcomes.

Today, instead of leaving you with a quote on this topic, I am going to encourage you to jump on Google and look up a paper I recently read about the topic. The search you are looking for is “Outcome-Directed Thinking: Questions That Turn Things Around.” The paper was written by Vikki Clawson and Bob Bostrom, and I hope, like me, you will find it worth the time it took you to read it.

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