From time to time, I still hear people within the community badmouthing and running down Okmulgee. For some people, it seems like it is so engrained in their psyche, that they just can’t stop themselves from making derogatory comments about Okmulgee and about the people who are genuinely trying to make our town a better place. It’s like a bad habit they just can’t quit. You have to feel sorry for joyless people like this who can only see the glass half empty. And unless you want to become just like them, stop listening to them and interacting with them.

But as you can see from today’s column, I don’t always follow my own advice.

Q: How can you say “Okmulgee is rising” when bad things happen every day in this town? Okmulgee isn’t rising, it’s failing, and wishing good things will happen won’t make them come true!

A: While I respect your opinion and would like to thank you for submitting this comment, I truly hope this does not reflect an honest and informed assessment of Okmulgee on your part. We all deal with frustrations in life, and it’s easy to become embittered when things don’t go our way or seem beyond our control. Yes, bad things do happen in life. But when we let the bad things become our focus, they will overwhelm us, and we will lose all hope. Without hope, there is only despair. When we refuse to see the good in life, we will only see the bad. It’s easy to deride anything that is optimistic and hopeful when you are in the clutches of pessimism and despair.

Many in town have adopted the catchphrase “Okmulgee Rising” and use it as a rallying cry, of sorts, to support and encourage the good works that are occurring in town. But others are annoyed by its use and feel it reflects a naïve perspective or an overly simplistic outlook.

My response would be that “Okmulgee Rising” does not mean everything is always going to be perfect in town. It doesn’t mean that businesses and families will never feel the effects of the economy. It does not mean our school and city coffers will always be “flush with cash” and able to fund every worthy project. In no way does it mean this town is exempt from the damaging effects of layoffs, floods, or fires. To the contrary, it means Okmulgee will never be defeated. Though this town will always face hardships and challenges, Okmulgee will persevere. “Okmulgee Rising” is a way of saying that this town and its people will ride out the storms and hardships in life and grow stronger with each one. It’s a state of mind that fervently believes, “Our best days are not behind us but ahead of us.”

I can’t stop you if you choose to see Okmulgee’s glass as being half empty. But you’ll have to understand that many of us are going to look at the same glass and see it half full. All opinions are welcome here. Please continue to forward your questions and comments 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.