In 2020, Rascal Flatts released the song “How They Remember You.”
Before I share a few lyrics from it and wander down a path of thoughts it has recently sparked for me, let me tell you about my week.
Make Seymour Shine is an annual event where everyone is encouraged to clean out the garage and do a little spring cleaning. This year was like many in the past as the crew from the Department of Public Works worked hard to keep up with the extra tonnage and slightly longer work days.
This year, we also spent extra time trying to remind the employees that we very much appreciate them and couldn’t do events like this without their hard work and dedication.
One of the many ways we did this was Building Commissioner Jeremy Gray and I grilling tenderloins for them on Friday. DPW, you all rock, and I can’t thank you enough for all your work in making the city of Seymour shine.
On my recent visit with a department, I spent some time with Animal Control Officer James Baurle. I spent the morning realizing how much effort goes into helping our four-legged residents here in Seymour.
From large adult dogs to the smallest of kittens, he gives them the same care and attention. His reaction to 100-plus pounds growling at him is nothing but professional. It seems I caught an unusual day when I visited as we not only got to help nine puppies have a chance at growing up to a better life, but they were relocated from a feral mom to foster homes all in the same day.
James, thank you for your service to our furry friends not just during Animal Control Officer Week but every day. Keep up the good work.
During a recent meeting, I learned about supportingheroes.org, which is an organization that does several things but most importantly supports the families of fallen firefighters, police and EMS. Instead of giving you all the details on this one, I will ask you to go check out the website and ask me about them when you see me in person.
“It ain’t a question of if they will, it’s how they remember you” is the chorus from Rascal Flatts’ song mentioned above.
Someone recently reminded me of a time that I gave them my two cents on something they had done as a teenager. Like most of my skate kids that hung around the shop, I never sugarcoated the truth from them. I told them what they needed to hear, even if they didn’t want to hear it.
Now that they are older, many of them have come back and shared random moments that I have often forgotten. These, though, are the reasons they remember me. Every interaction is a chance to create that memory, and I hope more often than not you are living a life that will make it a good memory.
I know we are all human and not every day is a perfect moment. Don’t beat yourself up for this, always be aware and try to control your emotions to avoid the bad when you can.
Don’t quit on your team. Don’t back down when you know something is right and should be done. Don’t sugarcoat the truth and not tell people what they need to hear when they need to hear it. Don’t spend your life being known as the person who only reaches out to complain.
Life is full of choices, and those choices will be what others remember about you. Hopefully, you leave more good than bad because as Rosa Parks said, “Memories of our lives, of our works and our deeds will continue in others.”
Matt Nicholson is the mayor of Seymour. Send comments to awoods@aimmedia indiana.com.