Celebrating milestones key to going forward

Kaity Holtman

Birthdays, weddings, anniversaries of all kinds, years in business….

What do they have in common? They are all big milestones that usually receive some sort of celebration or at least acknowledgement.

As I mentioned last week, my husband and I recently celebrated our fourth wedding anniversary. This is a common time of year for a lot of wedding anniversaries. Some of our staff members also have a lot of birthdays in their families this month.

(I know because of the dry-erase calendar Phil’s youngest daughter makes for us every month. I can see it from where I sit with just the slight turn of the head.)

Every month seems to be full of milestones that deserve recognizing. Even the Fourth of July is a yearly celebration of our freedom.

A big celebration going on in Maryville this month is the Mozingo Lake Recreation Park’s 20th Anniversary Celebration.

Though the Mozingo Lake build itself was completed in 1994, the golf course opened to the public in 1995.

To celebrate, the City of Maryville and Mozingo staff and leadership are throwing a huge party the last weekend of July, with 1995-throwback prices and a weekend packed full of family-oriented activities, entertainment, food, fireworks and more.

From what I’ve heard, it’s going to be quite a celebration. (See the full schedule at https://mozingolake.com/20year/)

I saw this post on Twitter from one of the city officials over the weekend: “As we celebrate 20 years @Mozingo Lake July 24-26 tell us what you want from the next 20! #20th anniversary #progress @MaryvilleMO”

And I’ve been thinking about that tweet since I read it.

A big milestone like a 20th anniversary is the perfect time for two things: first to reflect, remember and thank, and second to think toward the future and make new progress.

Mozingo is a huge asset to Maryville and Nodaway County. From what I heard, the entire project had its skeptics, but the supporters were progressive and supportive enough to make it all work — despite the flood of 1993.

The park has grown and quality has increased over that time. But stakeholders are looking ahead to plans of a new welcome center, a youth golf course in the works, an overhauled website, and what I’m sure is a long list of other continuous improvements.

Basically, they’re not stopping at the 20-year mile marker. It’s a moment to pause and say thank you, to reflect, and to look at what needs to happen to keep this asset thriving as a destination for those of us near, and those we welcome from afar.

A moment like this brings everyone back to the same page, to take a look at what we have, and to remind each individual that they have a vested interest in this community’s continued growth.

Milestones are reminders and refreshers. They renew our outlook and give us perspective.

And, sometimes, milestones are bittersweet, when we move through them without loved ones or are reminded of how different the “good ol’ days” were.

But if we look at them with the right attitude, the “good ol’ days” can be ahead of us.

With a little positive perspective, milestones can be opportunities packed with potential, goals and enthusiasm.

And if our whole community — or, imagine this, all of humanity — has a positive perspective and is looking for opportunities to make a positive impact before each milestone, we can accomplish so much together.

We look at each task and idea as manageable and “no big deal,” but when we reflect on that anniversary or birthday, or moment in time, we see how those individual tasks became one monumental accomplishment that we can be proud of.

And before we know it, 20 years later, we’re celebrating that what was once just an idea is now a cornerstone of our community.