An old man once said, “I have lived a long life and known many worries, but most of them never happened.” Our lives would be simpler and more enjoyable, if we could learn to focus on what we have rather than on what we don’t have and resolving the problems we can influence rather than worrying about what is beyond our control.

Q: Why are people so quick to find fault with Okmulgee and so slow to recognize its good qualities?

A: I guess it’s easier to complain about what we don’t have in this town or what we have lost than to appreciate what we do have or rejoice in what we have gained, and harder yet to commit yourself to making improvements. But fortunately, Okmulgee has many local stakeholders who are causing exciting things to happen almost every day. The cumulative effect of so many positive influences on this town has been quite dramatic. Just in the short time I’ve lived here, I’ve seen so many improvements in Okmulgee, and I know longtime residents have seen even more.

The drive along Wood Avenue was pretty depressing a few years ago, with several neglected commercial properties and overgrown lots making a terrible impression along our primary retail corridor. But today, quite a few new businesses have moved in and even more stores have received a significant facelift. Many business owners have invested in new façades, landscaping, and new signs—and they look great!

A few short years ago, most of the historic buildings in downtown Okmulgee were boarded up and abandoned. But today, most of them are undergoing renovations, and we have many new shops and restaurants occupying them. And as for amenities, we have a new outdoor fitness court downtown across from the new coffee shop, and a new skate park in Hawthorne Park with a new bike trail connecting it to our beautiful YMCA and pool complex.

Our outstanding public schools have been strengthening their curriculum and improving their facilities. Recent improvements have been made to our local airport, our hospital, and to our recreational lake system. The tribal complex has grown as well as the tribal college in town. Okmulgee has seen expansions to the local branch of the state university system. More college students are venturing off campus to live in downtown apartments, and more business owners are catering to the student population.

Even in our neighborhoods, there are countless examples of people doing what they can to improve the looks of their property. Everywhere you look, you can see properties being repaired, houses with a fresh coat of paint, new roofs, dead trees being removed, flowers being planted, and fresh landscaping. And every year, the city continues to remove condemned houses and other nuisance structures for public safety.

Thanks to the proactive efforts of so many local business owners, city leaders, public partners, civic groups and private citizens, Okmulgee has many positive things to boast about. We just need to spread the good news faster than the bad.

Your input with this column is greatly appreciated. Please forward your feedback or questions to osuitpresident@okstate.edu.

Dr. Bill R. Path is president of Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology and board member of Okmulgee Main Street Inc.