From the Publisher: Ryan’s Remarks

By Ryan T. Sauers

@RyanSauers @RyanTSauers

Goodbye 2021. Welcome 2022! It seems that not so long ago we were saying good riddance to 2020. Man, time flies. I am excited for 2022 – a year of new hopes, dreams, healing, love, fellowship, friends, family, and goals – and I am thankful for all the things that are possible with a new year.

I am also thankful to be alive. I am grateful for family and friends. I am thankful for making progress on my doctoral dissertation, for having launched a new radio and podcast network, and for being the host of a new weekly tv show. I am grateful for all the amazing business and community partners we have, and for our two magazines. I am thankful for our amazing team and for so many more things. You see, my friends, we all have a lot to be thankful for.

However, I am ready for 2022 and the new beginnings that a new year brings. The last nearly 24 months has been draining, unpredictable, and in a state of constant change. So, as we welcome in 2022, our team has spent the year thinking of new ideas and business plans. There is a lot of growth in many new areas on the way, so please stay tuned.

With that said, this column is written to provide inspiration as we seek to make 2022 an incredible year in the Our Town Gwinnett community. My question to you is simple: How bad do you want to grow as a person this year?

If you want something bad enough, you will find a way to achieve it. You will desire to solve things and make life better for everyone. In contrast, if you do not want something bad enough, you will find an excuse and complain about all the things happening to you and around you. It is the way human beings are wired.

So, you see, we have two choices. The first is to stand around and complain and be frustrated about how things are. The second is to do anything in our power to develop a plan and/or find a way to make things better. In this new year, I challenge you to push harder and dig deeper in every aspect of your life. Please set goals for yourself that you can track and achieve. We all can go deeper. Do not be afraid to fail. As my little green friend Yoda says in Star Wars, “The greatest teacher...failure is.” Also, do not be afraid to be your authentic self. Trust me – people are going to talk about you anyway, so why not give them a reason to talk?

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