Greetings & Happy New Year Modesto Friends,
Do you ever have those light bulb moments, where you think you have solved all of the world’s problems? I kind of have a lot of them, but so quickly they are gone and I wish I had written them down. Who knows how many thoughts like this disappear? I was watching the Space X launch on Dec 22 and just stared in wonderment. This is what happens when people think big, think smart and really do things that are game changers. That is what I want to do for 2018. It is not about simple resolutions to be more on time, which I need to do, or not take on too much, which I also frequently do, but to try to better capture those moments of inspiration that lead me to something way better.
One of the cool things about January is that it gives you time to decompress from the 2017 whirlwinds that literally blew us here before we were ready. And the other cool thing is that there are less activities pulling at us so we can get our stuff together. 2018 could not have come fast enough. We have all been through so much in 2017, that we really need to make 2018 count and set the wheels in motion for our next chapters.
This is the time to figure out what you want to be when you grow up. I struggle with this all the time. Do I spend more time trying to be a better musician, or try to be a better artist as I rarely draw like I used to? How do we sharpen our tools and take the time to be really good at something. Is being mediocre at many things OK too? So many conflicts, but this is the time to think about those things. When you get right down to it, finding those things you love to do, that your friends and family also love to do is some pretty good guidance. Thank goodness my family likes music, art, food and travel. But I will be a better musician by the end of the year.
We need to do the same Modesto. We need to tell our story, celebrate our history, and use this to build a future. What do we want to be when we grow up? As much as we talk about a vibrant downtown, we still struggle to make it so. How do we deal with the vagrancy and mentally ill, (not to be confused with homeless that are actually trying to get by and need a hand) so that people want to be out and about on our streets walking. How do we light up our city so it is safe and welcoming. We have an idea about this and you will see it soon. How do we get our community to better rally around our common goals?
This is my mission with ModestoView, to bring these ideas forward, provide a platform for the exchange of those ideas and hopefully enough of us will decide that a vibrant and culturally active Modesto is the kind of place that will make us strong for the future. We need to engage the smart, creative and energetic people for the common good. We can do this. Also, please tell me what you like or don’t like about ModestoView so we can make it better.
Let’s look at the world around us and bring the best ideas here, and work together. Let’s make sure that we say no to Amazon Prime once in a while and shop local and support each other as when it is all said and done, we have family and friends and the stuff doesn’t matter.
Thanks for being part of all of this and please think big and take action and keep popping those light bulbs.
Chris Murphy
Publisher and Founder, ModestoView
chrism@modestoview.com<mailto:chrism@modestoview.com>
