Mayor

1/1/2014

Mayor’s Message 2014
 

Dear West Milford Neighbor,

Life is a journey.  Each and every day we are afforded the opportunity to learn and grow.  We may experience pain, sadness, health, wealth, love, joy, loneliness, fear.  Along the roads we travel, choices are made, hardships are endured, and blessings are plentiful if we take the time to recognize them.
 
As your Mayor, my life has become an incredible journey.  While I have dealt with many negative situations, these burdens are far outweighed by the positive experiences I have encountered and embraced.  Serving as your Mayor, I have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact on our township as a whole as well as on an individual basis.  My goal in life has always been to do good deeds and help others.  I thrive on the daily challenges I face because each challenge affords yet another opportunity to become more cost-effective, provide better services, or transform melancholy into cheerfulness for our community and its members.  As Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
 
On my personal travels, the past few years presented challenges and adversity as well.  In 2010, my brother’s home, my childhood home, was destroyed by a massive fire.  In 2011, my daughter suffered severe traumatic brain injury as a result of a near fatal motor vehicle accident.  In 2012, personal health issues resulted in several biopsies and eventually breast surgery.  Through it all, despite the fear, anxiety, stress and distress, I focused on the positive.  In the end, I can truly count my blessings -- the fire did not result in any human or animal loss of life; my daughter fully recovered and is excelling in veterinary medical school; my surgery was minor and the biopsy results were ultimately benign. 
 
Despite the trials and tribulations I have faced as a person, as a professional, and as your Mayor, I feel gratitude for my experiences.  I see the good in life that always exists and would ask that you join me and reflect upon your blessings rather than your misfortunes.  I couldn’t agree more with Mr. Emerson, who in his wisdom so eloquently said, “What lies behind you and what lies in front of you, pales in comparison to what lies inside of you…Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.”
 
Warmest Regards,
 
Bettina