Writing is both therapeutic and agonizing. Writing with purpose consistently requires commitment, passion and creativity. These are lessons I have learned every week since January 2009, when I became a regular columnist as the editor of the Sedalia Democrat.
I have written a weekly commentary for the Democrat for a dozen years. The first one included a reference to then Mayor Bob Wasson welcoming me to the city on my first day on the job. His dedication to public service remains one of the most inspiring things I have encountered in Sedalia.
I have explored the zucchini races in Cole Camp, detailed my experience trudging through a deserted downtown during the blizzard of 2011 and explained how Dave Clippert, who led the Pettis County EMA at the time, helped keep our whole community safe in the 2011 tornado by learning lessons from Joplin’s experience. My first couple of years in Sedalia, I wrote daily commentaries during the Missouri State Fair, wandering the grounds until I found something interesting or enlightening.
Whether offering a local perspective on a national issue or sharing stories about people in our community, my goals are to give readers something to think about or smile about.
This week, I reached out to find out which of my columns had an impact on Democrat readers. Emily Schmidt, communications director for Boys and Girls Clubs of West Central Missouri, cited my piece on Mr. Jimmy, who hands out snacks at the club’s Parkview Elementary site. Schmidt has “always enjoyed stories like that – small moments and people who may have gone overlooked.”
Terri Ballard has liked the “Slice of Life” columns, where I share the story of someone who lives outside the community spotlight.
“During a time when our country and our community (are) so divided, these pieces allow us to get politics out of the way and get to know each other on a human level,” she said.