You've got to accentuate the positive Eliminate the negative Latch on to the affirmative Don't mess with mister in-between You've got to spread joy up to the maximum Bring gloom down to the minimum Have faith or pandemonium Liable to walk upon the scene
The lyrics of an old song still ring true. One can easily find fault with something that another is doing, but the question we must ask ourselves and try and be honest, "What are we doing to make our families, our communities, our churches, our organizations and more positive?" Do we think about solutions to problems or potential problems, or do we simply complain?
I had a beloved principal for whom I worked once, and he told me, "You can bring any issue you want to bring to me about concerns regarding the operation of the school, but when you bring it, I want you to have thought of one viable solution to the problem you can share." It made me think, and I never brought many at all, but, when I did, I had a possible solution.
Now, here is something else, and I may be wrong. If one who is in leadership surrounds him or herself simply with "yes" people who agree with them on everything, does any real progress occur? I have found often times, progress comes when someone is brave enough to say "I don't agree with such and such, and not to be contentious, but, because I have given it some thought." If a person in leadership is more interested in the organization or business in which they are in charge than their own ego, they will take into consideration opinions other than their own.
You may not care for someone personally, but if they do their job, and do their job well, you don't have to invite them to your house for dinner or like them personally, but you do need to consider their opinions and input, especially if it makes the organization more positive and productive. If you can't do that, check your ego, it may be a tad too "big for your britches." Enough of that.
I wish to commend Adams Country Store and Ann and Don Wilson for doing all they can to make Suwannee Hardware in the old Adams Brothers Mercantile more positive and create a place for local vendors to sell their goods.
Adams Brothers began as a general store. They sold everything from 10 penny nails to coffins. Established in 1865 by the late Captain Robert Watkins Adams, the original store was located near where the Riverside Filling Station, later the White Springs Public Library, is located. In 1893, the present store was constructed. The town owes a huge amount of gratitude to Raymond "Raymee" Cheshire, Wellborn, for purchasing the store from the Saunders family and for a lot of work he did to stabilize the building. White Springs and its people extends its sincere gratitude to our own Mrs. Tracy Woodard, longtime librarian and library branch manager for 24 years at the White Springs Public Library. Tracy will be missed. She is a dear friend and is without a doubt one of the most able and brilliant individuals ever. Her dedication to literacy, the community and all aspects of the community is more than commendable. We love you Mrs. Tracy, and we will miss you. Her last day as White Springs Library Manager was Dec. 31, 2020. Tracy, along with her husband, Clayton E. "Woody" Woodard, live here, raised their children here, and all the children were students at South Hamilton Elementary School when I served as principal. They were very involved in the education of their children.
In Branford, I must express how great I feel each time I drive down to Branford and dine in one of the town's great eateries. It is such a pretty town located right on the banks of the historic Suwannee River, there is an atmosphere there so warm and welcoming.
Mayo, located in Lafayette County, how many ways can one say "top notch" for all the wonderful and justifiable recognition received by this district for the quality of their school system. I must also express that to me, the beauty of the Hal Adams Bridge going into Mayo remains an outstanding iconographic symbol of our area like the historic Suwannee County Courthouse or the Stephen Foster Carillon Tower in White Springs, Fla.
Thanks to those who worked in Suwannee County's McDonald's outside of White Springs with Dr. Helen Miller's not for profit HOPE program, the Santa Claus event on Saturday, Dec. 18, was wonderful. Thank you to these dedicated board members for their help: Nicole Williams, Anita Rivers, Margaret Henry and Dr. Helen Miller. The Santa Claus event followed a stellar and successful White Springs Christmas Parade. Thank you again to Ward Daniels and family of Jasper for allowing me as school board member from district 4 to ride on your beautiful float. I do appreciate it. I truly had a good time throwing out chocolate candy to all the holiday revelers, magical evening, magnificent.
We have so much in our area for which we can always be positive and proud. Let's keep that attitude in 2021. Despite the pandemic and all that it implies, let's keep alive the lyrics of an old African American spiritual:
This joy I have within
The world didn't give to me
The world didn't give it
The world can't take it away.
From the Eight Mile Still on the Woodpecker Route north of White Springs, wishing you a day filled with joy, peace and above all, lots of love and laughter.