Resolution Vs. Devotion
Happy New Year…it’s so hard to believe we have turned another calendar year.
The older I get the faster the years seem to fly by. With every new year that rolls around there is a sense of a new start, a clean slate so to speak. This seems to inspire us to set goals. for the coming year. So we create a list of New Year’s Resolutions. As noble as it sounds, how well does it work. As Dr. Phil would say, ”How’s that working for you?” Even though we have good intentions to achieve our resolutions, statistics reflect the raw truth. According to the Dec 5, 2018 edition of U.S. News & World Report, “80 percent of New Year's resolutions fail by February”. February? “While the reasons vary from person to person, here are 4 common ways you are standing in the way of your success.” The reasons cited are our goals aren’t clear, we feel overwhelmed, we feel discouraged, we’re not ready to change. “This lack of connection, motivation, and dedication doesn’t mean that our goals aren’t representative of our dreams. It may simply mean that they are not the goals that matter the most to you at this present time.”
What does Webster say about a “resolution”?
res·o·lu·tion. noun - a firm decision to do or not to do something.
Would we be more successful in accomplishing our goals if we tied them on our passion and devotion rather than just a decision? What is the difference? This is what Webster says about the word “devotion”.
de·vo·tion noun - love, loyalty, or enthusiasm for a person, activity, or cause.
Being resolved to accomplish or eliminate something is fine and good for life. But being devoted to a cause or people (community) changes the culture. People are attracted to it. I recently spoke with a producer from the History Channel who was in Toccoa to shoot footage for a pilot of a new series on their network. This is what he said, “I’ve been all over the world producing tv programs and movies for years; this has by far been the easiest community to work in because everyone is so willing to help.” Another example of what the impression is of the folks of Stephens County came from Gary Wheeler, VP INSP Films. While producing films here this is what he said about the cooperative spirit in Toccoa, “Everyone has been so welcoming, and we appreciate the generous and gracious hospitality we’ve been shown.”
After having the privilege to work alongside our City, County, and Development Authority leadership for over four years, I have become increasingly aware of how rare it is for community leadership to be so intentional in the effort to work together to accomplish the common goal helping to make our community a better place to live and to do business. This is because of a devotion to the cause. We love our community and people are attracted to cooperation. Cooperation is the result of devotion.
When people know the community is behind them, they are motivated to succeed for the betterment of the community. Devotion to community is contagious and inspires courageousness, which leads to overall success.
We live in a beautiful town, worthy of our commitment, enthusiasm and devotion to work together with our neighbors for the good of the cause and an ever-increasing quality of life. As we move into 2019 let’s be part of the change, the solution. Let’s be intentional and devoted to making Toccoa-Stephens County an even better place to do business and the greatest place to do life.