Bill Kenny: We all could be the 'something good to happen in Norwich' in the New Year
I grew up with the music of The Sixties (capitalized that way deliberately), most especially the British invasion of the pop music charts. I mention that because I can quote rock music lyrics of that era (or error as my father came to call it) in much the way my more religious acquaintances can cite Scripture.
John Lennon offered, "A dream you dream alone is only a dream. A dream you dream together is a reality." When he gave voice to his dreams through his music, that was when we discovered how many of those dreams we all shared.
As we near the end of another year of tossing and turning, perhaps our resolution for the New Year might be to decide if we intend to wake up and show up when it comes to making a difference or do we intend to treat one another to more of the same and hope no one says anything that might require someone to do something.
I don't intend to fan the flames of communal memory and review the past year through Rose (City) colored glasses, though if you wanted to drink a cup of kindness, feel free, and if there are grounds in that cup of dreams, they came as part of the set.
Somehow as we've struggled to reinvent our street, neighborhood, village or city, with equal parts economic development, community involvement, and what seems at times to be some sort of alchemy, we've too often forgotten how we got here, separately, and how the only way we can move ahead is by doing so together.
Each of us has a specific reason, not merely emotional and/or physical inertia, or exhaustion, which has brought us to Norwich, at this time and which keeps us here. It may be "only one thing" for you or me but added together, each of our "only one thing" adds up to many reasons.
Just as no single drop of rain holds itself accountable for the flood that follows, while we may feel helpless when we feel we cannot do everything, we must realize we can each still do something. But then, as part of that realization, we also must do it.
We are fortunate to live in an area of the country that offers so much, so close; from shopping through dining, athletic to artistic and everything in between. Norwich is a wonderful place to raise a family. If history is to be believed we've been doing that for 364 years, each generation in turn mindful of "each one, teach one."
We each have a story to tell, the story of us, the story of how we came to be here and to be here together at this time. So many of us have waited for so long for "something good to happen in Norwich." Might I suggest we could be the "something good" we have been waiting for and if that is, indeed, the case, then haven’t we waited long enough?
Let us begin from this instant on, even as 2023 is crawling to its inevitable end, to become the people we believe we can be, living in the city we know we can have.
This rapidly approaching New Year is perfect for a new beginning and for proving that we have a plan, a purpose, and a destination. It is high time we take ourselves along. Happy Next Year! See you on the other side.
Bill Kenny, of Norwich, writes a weekly column about Norwich issues. His blog, Tilting at Windmills, can be accessed at https://tiltingatwindmills-dweeb.blogspot.com/.
This article originally appeared on The Bulletin: Bill Kenny: Make a New Year's resolution for 2024 to help Norwich
