Letter 29 - Potential: Longview's Greatest Trait

Potential: having or showing the capacity to become or develop into something in the future....

This is Longview's greatest trait and something that we have always been excited about! Frankly - it's what keeps us going. Just thinking about the vast opportunities that exist within the City... from industry to recreation, education to economic development... there are so many possibilities... when you really think about it, we live in an amazing place positioned and planned for greatness.

As we re-emerge from the weight of the pandemic, we’ve begun to move the needle in a positive direction. We’d been holding steady at neutral trying to stay afloat, which was safe and necessary to get us through this difficult time, but now there’s excitement. We've began seeking and grasping new opportunities.

Of course, we will start with small increments of headway- that’s how initial momentum works. We have to walk before we run or we’ll end up tripping. We started one foot in front of the other until we got our bearings, now we are focusing on our preferred future, and next (which is the fun part) we have the opportunity to give it everything we have to get us there. We are not saying we won’t stumble along the way as we learn and grow, but we are surer-footed and concentrated on future progress and success.

Longview is a good town, but we can do more and be more. So much so, that it keeps us up at night. What needs to change is our ability to move forward and capitalize and utilize our potential. It has always been there, positioned perfectly on the edge of something infinitely grand waiting for us to take the next step.

We can’t do this without the full help and support of our community. Community-minded individuals and groups have put in the hard work to pave the way for others to join in their successes and for that we are forever grateful. Leaders are to needed start, but followers are the ones who get things finished. The momentum is building.

Do you feel it?

There is the undertone of enthusiasm and eagerness that hasn’t always been there or been felt before. More and more people are reaching out and wanting to be a part of a solution. Effort is being focused on positive aspects and impacts within our community. These feelings turn into passion, passion leads to action, and action yields results.

So, as we stare down our upcoming 100-year anniversary (2023), and start to emerge from a crippling pandemic, we hope we can celebrate our centennial with change and growth and a unified vision of awareness, opportunity, and action.

We are proud to serve Longview and will continue to do what we can to play a part as we make the most of our potential and go from "being on the verge", to first steps, to next steps, to small victories, and to grand success stories!

#SmallTownPride #LittleTownBigIdeas #GetInvolved #BeAPartOfSomethingBigger