Change is never easy and that is especially true when it is not embraced.
That was evidenced early this week during a conversation with a long time Carter County resident and community leader. We had a very serious discussion about Carter County, Elizabethton and the community’s reluctance to make change that would so greatly benefit everyone from an economic and a social standpoint.
It seem, he said, this comes from our inability to work together in this community.
This individual has worked long and hard to do good here in Carter County, but as strong as he is, he is getting discouraged.
That was hard to hear. Listening to one of the strongest community leaders I have ever met say he is frustrated spoke volumes.
Then, something changed.
It’s funny, but when you least expect it, a small story helps us see what our future could look like when we work together.
On Wednesday morning, our county reporter, Abby Morris-Frye, told us about a story she was working on for Friday’s edition. You have probably already read about the new recycling project developed by local county schools.
If you read that article, you could also see how one school in one part of the county came up with an idea, then realizing that other schools in the areas and varied and unique areas of expertise, they called on them to participate, to ensure the project was a success.
Now that is the way I always thought things were supposed to work.
Carter County and Elizabethton lag behind other communities in our region because of a serious problem. It’s called “turf protection,” and it’s a terminal disease.
Being territorial, whether with actual land, power, or ideas is a crippling illness. It isolates people, creates jealousy and pits groups of individuals from various corners of our region against one another.
We are surely seeing this disease run rampant throughout our county and city governments, as one entity seems determined to gain all the power over the other.
One only has to look at our federal government to see how dysfunctional that makes us. Surely we are better than that.
Cooperation is not a dirty word, nor is it a sign of weakness. Cooperation makes us all stronger, better and more effective.
As we sit with our arms folded, determined to rail against change, the world around us goes on. Schools, business, and infrastructure are all thriving in our neighboring communities.
As we sit with a scowl on our face, new businesses are taking a look at us and decided to go somewhere else because of the negative environment our infighting is causing.
As we sit with our backs against a wall, others are actively networking with their neighbors and colleagues, focusing on how working together can make their community better instead of plotting how they can take all their marbles and go home.
It is time for us to unfold our arms, put a smile on our face, get up out of our chairs and do something for the good of all in Carter County.
Until that happens, we will have what we’ve always had because we are doing what we have always done.
Change is never an easy thing, but taking the first step is the hardest. In this case, the first step should be for our county commission to drop their ridiculous lawsuit against Carter County Tomorrow, make a plan to work together with the city government, and start developing some synergy to build for our future.
Until that happens, we will have what we’ve always had because we are doing what we have always done.
Change is never an easy thing, but taking the first step is the hardest. In this case, the first step should be for our county commission to drop their ridiculous lawsuit against Carter County Tomorrow, make a plan to work together with the city government, and start developing some synergy to build for our future.