More than luck: SASC recognizes initiative in action

By Alexa Ten Eyck

When the calendar turns to March, talk of luck fills the air. It often takes credit for the good things coming our way. Yet lasting success is built through initiative.

Behavioral studies suggest that individuals who take initiative significantly increase their odds of success. Stepping into gaps, solving problems quickly, and remaining persistent improve those outcomes. Leadership research, including Jim Collins’ five-year study in “Good to Great,” found that lasting success comes not from sudden breakthroughs but from consistent, disciplined action over time. Communities function the same way. Success does not come by chance; it comes when someone sees what needs to be done and chooses to do it.

March is also a transitional month. It is not quite winter, not yet spring. Conditions can be unpredictable, sometimes messy, often demanding patience. Progress during this time cannot wait for perfect conditions. It must begin with movement, with people willing to step forward when circumstances shift.

At the Stockbridge Area Senior Center, we see this principle in action regularly. Progress does not happen by accident. It happens because individuals take initiative.

Which brings us to someone we consider one of our very own lucky charms—Daryl Anderson. That distinction is not about chance. It reflects the way initiative is modeled in action.

While his title may read “Board of Directors Secretary,” that hardly captures the scope of his contribution. Daryl has taken on responsibilities that range from member engagement and facility maintenance to event coordination and financial oversight. When something needs attention, waiting is not his approach. He sees the need, makes the call, secures the resources, and follows through. That is what initiative looks like in practice.

As we step into March, SASC is ready. Ready to take on new projects, embrace fresh ideas, continue building momentum. At its core, this community understands that progress comes from participation. When individuals choose initiative over chance, momentum builds and meaningful work moves forward across the Stockbridge area and the surrounding communities we serve. That is what it means to be more than lucky.

Luck may be a symbol of the season, but success comes from initiative. A spirit reflected in Daryl and in all who quietly uphold those same steady, action-oriented values, keeping our community moving confidently into each new season.

Alexa M. Ten Eyck is the board president of the Stockbridge Area Senior Center (SASC)—a great place to spend time. Experience firsthand a sense of connection and well-being at SASC. Visit stockbridgeareaseniors.org, call 517-480-0353, or stop in at 219 W. Elm Street for information.