What's Your Habit?

Posted by – Steve Cohen, Director of Community Development

There are about 100 people who follow this blog.  It’s pretty easy to follow (see right hand side) and you can sign-up and get each post we enter via e-mail from our host provider WordPress.

We’ve tried hard over the past two years to let people know about new development projects, unique planning efforts, interesting people and companies, and sometimes a little bit about ourselves.  We strive to do this daily.  If you think about it, our blog is a habit and by its very nature … intentional.

Why do it?  To be honest, we have to remind ourselves every once in a while why we do it, especially when work and life get so busy.  However, it’s simple – we recognize that it’s important to keep people informed.  It’s not a job requirement and it’s not a burden for us.  We love telling the Auburn Hills Story and we’re very proud to be a part of this town.  It’s an honor.

The reason I bring this up is one of our followers recently sent me a poem.  This guy is a building construction expert at a local business and often provides uplifting comments to me personally about our Department’s efforts to provide this service.  The other day he sent a note encouraging our “good habit” to keep people informed daily, along with the poem below.

“I Am A Habit”
By John Di Lemme

I am your constant companion.
I am your greatest helper or your heaviest burden.
I will push you onward or drag you down to failure.
I am completely at your command.
Half the things you do, you might just as well turn over to me, and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly.
I am easily managed; you must merely be firm with me.
Show me exactly how you want something done, and after a few lessons I will do it automatically.

I am the servant of all great men.
And, alas, of all failures as well.
Those who are great, I have made great.
Those who are failures, I have made failures.
I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine.
Plus, the intelligence of a man.
You may run me for profit, or run me for ruin; it makes no difference to me.
Take me, train me, be firm with me and I will put the world at your feet.
Be easy with me, and I will destroy you.
Who am I?
I am a HABIT!

What habits are you forming?  Are you focusing on deliberate goals related to your health … your work … your family … your faith?  As this poem describes, developing a plan to achieve a positive vision (instead of allowing destructive habits to evolve) and sticking to it will make all the difference in the world.