Derek Easterling

A Word From Mayor Derek Easterling

Hello, Kennesaw, and welcome to fall, y’all!

The city of Kennesaw invites area residents, families, neighborhoods, nonprofits, civic and faith-based organizations, local businesses, schools, local sports teams and athletic clubs to design and create a scarecrow to display on Main Street this fall for the third annual Scarecrows on Main display. The city will upload photos of each scarecrow to its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CityofKennesaw, and members of the community will be invited to cast their votes for their favorite scarecrows. The Top 3 scarecrows will receive a People’s Choice award, and the scarecrow with the most votes will win bragging rights and a $100 prize. Second place will receive a $50 prize, and third place will get a $25 prize.

A $25 application fee to the Kennesaw Downtown Development Authority is required with each entry. All money raised will be used to promote the downtown area through beautification projects and events. The application and information packets can be found on the city’s website at www.kennesaw-ga.gov/ scarecrowsonmain, and the deadline for applications is Sept. 12.

A Different Kind of Challenge

What do you see in the picture to the left? Do you see a fashionable young woman or a sad-looking old woman?

Our paradigms — the way most of us see things in the world, right or wrong — are the foundation of our attitudes and behaviors and directly influence the relationships we have with one another. Things aren’t always what you believe them to be. In his book “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” Stephen Covey uses this image to begin his writing about a new way of thinking and building a foundation centered on principles over personality.

What Covey writes about our Circle of Influence and Circle of Control causes me to think about my dad and how he has lived his life. My dad is almost 85 years old and chooses to work every day. His life is principlecentered and focused on becoming the best version of himself by achieving his goals through hard work and diligence.

He has impressed upon me that there is no single concept, shortcut, quick fix or approach to creating success outside of being true to yourself and beginning the process by looking within. The way we define success might be different, but the way we get there is based on our own positive character traits. The way we respond to situations and events in our lives also is based on these traits.

We might not have a choice in what happens to us, but we certainly have a choice in how we respond. Each action or response has a consequence, albeit good or bad, but how we respond still is our choice to make.

I pray your September is filled with goodness and that blessings abound for you and your family.

God bless you!

Derek Easterling has served as Kennesaw’s mayor since 2016. He is dedicated to serving his community to the highest level possible.