Matt Nicholson
In their book Life is Good, the Jacobs brothers wrote, “What we focus on grows.” Before I explore this line enough to clear my mind, I will share some of my recent week as the mayor of the best smalltown in America.
Congratulations to officers Hammond, Peelman, and Huynh on recently being sworn in at the Seymour Police Department. They now begin their training phases with SPD. Officers Hammond and Peelman will both be headed to the academy next month. Officer Huynh has already graduated from the academy and will start with a Field Training Officer. I won’t even begin to try and share all the areas during the FTO process, but all three will have several different sections to complete for hundreds of hours of training along with several different training officers to learn from to help make them as well rounded as possible, as well as to make sure they are ready before they hit the streets solo.
Did you get a chance to see Santa this Christmas season? I had a chance to help escort him around on Seymour Fire Department’s Engine 14 earlier this month. Another event that I had a chance to help with was delivering Santa to Crossroads Park to light the tree. My last chance to help him out this season was for a weeknight visit with the kids from our community. As I sat at the end of the line to see him, my heart was warmed by those Merry Christmas greetings and the family pictures I got to snap in front of the tree all decorated and bright. The most exciting part, though, was watching as the kids worked their way back out from Santa’s house and they chatted with Mom or Dad heading back to the car. This was where the real magic was, and I am glad I got to witness it first hand. Each year, I witness everyday citizens who work hard to help make sure that magic is in the air. They work hard to see that the love they have for the season is shared with as many people as possible. If it is decorating beforehand or baking for a neighbor, dressing as a character and helping out at an event or preparing hot chocolate for all to have, we can’t forget about the little pieces of love that each and every one of you contribute to making the season extra magical for everyone else. Thank you to anyone that contributed to the magic in 2021, and I hope we can all come together in 2022 and make it the most magical of them all.
Well, I guess it is time to get back to what the Jacobs brothers wrote in Life is Good. “What we focus on grows.” As we walk into 2022, I plan to focus on those things that I want to see grow within our community. In 2020 and 2021, I have been focused on how we grow housing choices in Seymour. While we aren’t done yet, I believe we have made good progress. We have seen blighted properties removed and new housing options placed on those lots. So where do we focus in 2022? At City Hall for the last few weeks, I have had a dream wall just outside my office that I will use to see what community members think our focus should be. I will take several days and go back through conversations from the last year and see if any trends need to be looked at. I will do a little dreaming of my own and see where my mind thinks we need to focus in 2022. Now if you have gotten to know me over the last few years, you realize that I read every piece of mail, every email, listen to the messages from those that have called in, and take to heart what is said regardless of how it is said. I still humbly accept the responsibility to sort through these and try to find the best next step for our community as a whole. I hope as you see things come out over the next days, weeks, and months that you will join in on the ones that you want to see grow. I hope that you will try your best to help us grow our focus not just for ourselves, but for generations to come. Mark Twain said, “Focus more on your desire than on your doubt, and the dream will take care of itself.”