Prior to this year, we would have argued that there is nothing quite so predictable as tradition. But predictability went out the window this year, just as we were getting ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Newtown's steady habit of paradin
Prior to this year, we would have argued that there is nothing quite so predictable as tradition. But predictability went out the window this year, just as we were getting ready to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Newtownâs steady habit of parading through the center of town on Labor Day. Tropical Storm Irene blew the parade back more than a month to October 9, throwing the event off its stride and thinning its audience from a joyous throng to a small sympathetic gathering of parade die-hards. The pulse of the line of march grew faint as the number of bands thumping their way along the parade route dropped from 13 to three. The valiant parade committee, having been dealt a difficult hand by natural and bureaucratic forces, played it out with a mix of stoicism and good humor, making the event memorable and, at times, poignant for those who did attend.
What became clear to everyone last Sunday was that the energy and spirit of Newtownâs traditional Labor Day Parade derives not so much from the marching units, but from the crowds that come to be a part of the experience. That is true not only for the actual parade, but also for the metaphorical parade of community life it represents. In Newtown â or any town, for that matter â the success of any initiative or enterprise is directly related to the number of people paying attention. When challenges, both natural and manmade, force us to reschedule, change course, or rethink our traditional modes and methods, the key factor for successfully meeting that challenge is the engagement and support of the community as a whole, and not just a trusty band of sympathetic die-hards.
It appears we are at the threshold of an era of challenges marching at us from all quadrants (professional, local, national, and global) that will test our energy and spirit in ways tradition has not prepared us for â in ways we cannot predict. The difference between meeting this era with coping mechanisms like stoicism and good humor that make the best of a bad situation and meeting it with creativity, innovation, and a determination to succeed in ways that redefine that situation is the realization that we join this parade into the future not just for ourselves, but for others who await us along the way. High expectations foster high achievement. It all depends on how many of us show up, and how many of us stay home.