Complaint Free
Weekly update #303 11/9/2025 to 11/15/2025
What’s the good word? Seems to be a simple enough question that so many of us struggle with. Before that though, let me share some of my week serving as mayor of the best small town in America.
On Veterans Day I had a chance to attend a couple of ceremonies here in Seymour. One speaker was above and beyond on his delivery to students. He had their attention from start to finish. He shared about his decades of service and broke out the Drill Sergeant hat and had 800 plus kids standing and sitting in no time. Congratulations to all the organizations involved on good events and thank you to Master Sergeant Curry for sharing with our fifth and sixth graders.
At Common Council this week members had a chance to hear the final report of the Safe Streets for All study for Seymour. This project has been going on since late last year, and various pieces will continue for decades to come. All six members of council passed a resolution to work towards zero fatalities by 2050. Many of the pieces are educational so watch for new materials in the future from Seymour Police and Seymour Fire Departments. Thank you to everyone who has worked on this over the last year.
The arts are alive and well at Seymour High School with the Varsity Chorale putting on Freaky Friday over the last few days. I can’t speak for every performance, but on Friday night the Earl D. Prout Auditorium was packed with lots of laughs and several rounds of applause. Congratulations to all the performers and all those involved on a great production.
While we are on the topic of Seymour High School, congratulations to the girls basketball teams on their wins over Greenwood. Both Varsity and JV came out strong and showed what teamwork looks like during the games. Keep up the teamwork, ladies, and the season will be fun for you and for all your fans. If you haven’t yet, get out and enjoy a game at Lloyd Scott Gymnasium.
It is time to get back to that simple question from the opening paragraph. What’s the good word? While it is short and should be simple, many of us struggle with sharing a positive when asked. It is human nature to quickly respond with negatives when asked. I am sure some even see being negative as part of their status symbol, and that is their choice. It is also your choice to encourage their behavior with attention when they do. Every morning, I try to put a little positive out with my quote of the day, and all but one Sunday for the last 303, I have shared positive news from the week before. I do this because when we look at the positives, it becomes easier to see them the next time just like if you focus on the negatives. Over the years, I have read a few books on this topic and currently I am reading A Complaint Free World by Will Bowen. I got my copy downtown at the Magic of Books, and I am sure they can order you one if you would like to join me and the over 15 million others worldwide who have read it. Today, I will leave you with the words of Elizabeth Elliot, “It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given. One or the other becomes a habit of life.”