Dash

Weekly Update #240 8/25/2024 to 8/31/2024

“-” I heard this week that it is all about the dash. Before that though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America. 

This week, we had team members from several departments attend virtual training via the Local Technical Assistance Program, LTAP for short. The training was related to de escalation techniques during stressful situations. We probably had more in attendance at this training from Seymour than ever before and have had several conversations related to it afterwards. Thank you, LTAP, for the chance to improve our skills.

This week, I had a chance to sit down with Ivy Tech and talk about Seymour and the future offerings they may have. While I can't really say what may come, I can say I hope we are able to find a way to create some educational opportunities for community members to improve themselves. As many of us know, education can open doors in many ways from improved job opportunities to better pay. Thank you, Ivy Tech, for the conversation, and I look forward to seeing what we can accomplish.

August 31st is International Overdose Awareness Day, and each year, a group of partners comes together to host an event with several activities. The event is to remember those who we have lost to overdose and hopefully encourage those who need help finding recovery. Speaking of recovery this week, council voted to allow a request for a matching grant from Opiod Settlement Funds to apply for over$3 million from Eli Lilly to work on mental health and recovery if awarded. Thank you to everyone who has worked on this so far and to everyone in the future If our community is awarded the chance.

Back to that dash that started this week's update. During the sermon at a funeral this week, the minister spoke of the first date when you are born, followed by the dash, and finally the date of death. The fact is what really matters is all the living we do is in that dash. The laughs we have shared with family and friends. The love that often sneaks up on us when we least expect it. The service we have done for those around us. In an obituary that dash is just one character, but in reality, it is all but two days of our lives. Take chances, get messy, and live that dash to the fullest while you can. Today, I will leave you with the words of President Lincoln, "In the end, it's not the years in your life that count. It's the life in your years."