What an incredible event the ‘Bring It Home Parade’ was in Paris! Our community was the recent destination for thousands of Harley-Davidson motorcycle riders who came from all over the United States with the singular purpose of giving our community the honor of a Guinness Book Of World Records title for the most Harleys in a continuous parade.
The record was achieved, and Paris will forever be recorded as the location for this event.
Now you may not care about the world record, Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the thousands of dollars these people spent in our community or anything else that has to do with Paris but I am here to tell you that you need to care.
We need to support those that take the initiative to bring events to our community. The event organizers, in turn, rely on us in the community to put our “best foot forward” when we encounter attendees of that event.
We are our Paris’ ambassadors.
Each of us has a role to play. We rise and fall together as a community. Positive things and pride will come from reaching out to visitors than ever come from closing off to encounters and the chance to introduce people to all Paris and the surrounding area has to offer.
Our community is growing and changing whether you want it to or not.
I hear comments like, “Oh, I don’t like the change I just wish we could stay a small community.” But then these same people are the ones who turn around and complain that our streets need to be fixed or that they wish we had a certain restaurant or shopping venue. Progress and growth will bring change and that same growth will fix your streets and bring your favorite restaurant to our town.
One thing I know for sure, we are not going to stop making people in this world. People will come and buy houses in Paris; they will open businesses and their families will grow, which in turn will fill our schools. We are growing and I encourage you to embrace it and get involved.
Join civic organizations, take an interest in local politics and let your voice be heard about the change you want to see. Growth is not bad. I like to think of Paris as a garden and if we water it, prune it and care for it will grow into something beautiful. If we choose to ignore the growth that will come anyway, we will have an overgrown mess with a few flowers and a lot of weeds.
So, I choose to garden more and gripe less. How about you?
James Wyatt
President – 1st Street Media
