Can you believe February is here? Many of the New Year’s Resolutions have already been forgotten or broken by now and some of us have drifted back into the same old routine. I want to challenge you to look back on 2014 and process all of the good and not so good things that occurred during the year. It allows us to put things into perspective and provides foresight to maintain our goals in 2015.
One resolution I would like for to you to consider is the word “Believe.”
Believe in miracles! They still occur every day and if you look for them, you will see them all around you. Have you ever seen a baby born, a child’s face on Christmas morning, or a flower growing in the idle of a sidewalk? Life is full of miracles; take the opportunity to see them. The miracle is in believing.
Believe in the opportunities! An ancient Chinese proverb says. “Don’t curse the darkness – light a candle.” Take the opportunity to make someone’s day. As public servants, we have the privilege of serving our communities and making a huge difference in the lives around us. Much can be said as well for TCMA. There are many opportunities to serve the organization and make a difference.
Believe in the positive! See the glass as half full and that you have the ability to make it overflow. Focus on the positive while realizing that some things did not go as planned – but those are opportunities to learn. I once heard someone say that there are no bad days, just bad moments in a day. Choose.
Believe in service above self! Winston Churchill said “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” Go the extra mile; you will be glad that you did. ICMA recently celebrated its 100th Anniversary. Can you imagine all of the volunteer hours that were given by ICMA members over those 100 years to build a solid foundation for us to build upon? Make the most of this by volunteering yourself to serve TCMA and/or ICMA. There’s always room for you.
Believe in others! Lift up the ones around you and know that they’re trying their best. Give them a break when they make a mistake. Better yet, give them a helping hand. You would expect the same from them when you stumble.
Believe in your friends! These are the ones who stand by you through thick and thin. These are the ones you have shared some of your greatest triumphs with and these are the ones who know all of your warts. True friendship is one of life’s greatest treasures.
Believe in your family! This is the group we often take for granted and 2015 is the perfect time to let them know how important they are to us. Take time to tell them how important they are to you and spend time with them. After all, that is what vacation days and holidays are for.
Believe in yourself! Don’t be so hard on yourself. We all make mistakes, but if we learn from them, we’re ok. Will Rogers an American cowboy, humorist, and vaudeville performer from Oklahoma once said, “Why not go out on a limb? That’s where the fruit is.” Life is about risks, taking those risks, and overcoming the challenges associated with those risks. My mother told me as a child that if I did not believe in myself and challenge myself (take risks), then how can I expect others to believe in me. We are all created as special and unique people with gifts that enable us to be successful. Believe that these gifts allow each one of us the ability to stretch beyond our capabilities and make a difference in the lives of everyone around us.
Have an awesome year!
(Article submitted by James Fisher, City Manager, City of Murphy. If you have interesting news or helpful topics to share, please submit them to Kim Pendergraft at [email protected].)