Page 6 of Outspoken Hearts
Back at my table, I consider the mayor's text. The branding committee sounds exactly like what people expect me to lead.
But what if I approached it differently? Not as perfect James Adams, but just James; as who sometimes doesn't know the answers and gets tired of being strong for everyone.
I pull up the mayor's text and begin typing:
James
Thanks for thinking of me. I'd be happy to chair the committee with one condition. I want this to be a true collaborative effort with real debate and diverse perspectives. Not just a rubber stamp on predetermined ideas.
I hit send before I can overthink it. It's a small boundary, but it feels significant.
The response comes quickly.
Mayor Pullman
Absolutely! That's exactly why we want you. Your ability to bring people together while respecting different viewpoints is unmatched. First meeting is next Thursday at 7. I'll have Margie send you the committee list.
I sip my coffee, feeling a flicker of genuine interest. Maybe this could be different. Maybe I could be different in this role.
My phone pings with an email from Margie Henderson, the town council secretary. The subject line reads: "Town Branding Committee - Member List and Meeting Schedule."
I scan the names quickly, recognizing most of them. Local business owners, a representative from the historical society, and Eva Miller, UX Designer.
The name isn't familiar, which is unusual in a town the size of Meadowbrook. I google her quickly and find a sleek, professional website showcasing an impressive portfolio. Her work has a distinctive style—bold but inviting, modern but with warmth. I click through a few projects, genuinely impressed by the balance she strikes between functionality and character.
Intriguing. Someone new. Someone whose first impression of me won't be colored by years of local mythology about James Adams, the kid who held his family together, the high school valedictorian who came back to invest in his hometown.
My coffee is cooling as I browse through Eva Miller's portfolio. There's something refreshing about her designs—they're confident, unapologetic. They make statements rather than trying to please everyone.
I think about the committee, about the opportunity to rebrand the town I've called home for most of my life. If I'm honest, Meadowbrook's current branding is stale. It's all faded pastoral imagery and generic small-town slogans. It doesn't capture the vibrancy and complexity of the place.
For the first time all day, I feel a spark of genuine enthusiasm. This project could actually matter. And maybe it could be a chance to show a different side of myself. To work with people who challenge me rather than defer to me.
I finish my coffee and head back to my car. As I drive home to my too-quiet, too-tidy house, I think about Thursday's meeting. About how I'll introduce myself to Eva Miller and the others. About whether I can find the courage to be a little less perfect, a little more real.
My phone rings through the car's Bluetooth system. My assistant's name flashes on the dashboard screen.
"Hey, Diane."
"James, I've got three requests for you. The Lions Club wants you to MC their charity auction next month, Meadowbrook High would like you to judge the senior project showcase, and the Chamber of Commerce is hoping you'll present at their quarterly breakfast."
The familiar weight settles back onto my shoulders. "Can you send me the dates? I'll need to check my calendar."
"Of course. Oh, and congratulations on the hospital foundation event. I heard it was phenomenal."
"Thanks." The word comes out more hollow than I intend.
"Everything okay? You sound tired."
I hesitate. Diane has been my assistant for two years, efficiently managing the public side of my life. She's never seen the cracks in the facade. I've made sure of that.
"Just thinking about the town branding project," I say finally. "I want to take a different approach with this one."
"Different how?"
"Less... controlled. More collaborative. Real collaboration, not just the appearance of it."
There's a pause before she responds. "That sounds refreshing, actually. You're always at your best when you're genuinely engaged, not just going through the motions."
