#1

PURPOSE 

“The mystery of human existence lies not in just staying alive, but in finding something to live for.”
Fyodor Dostoyesvsky
​

Our lives have meaning.  Each individual has strengths and aptitudes that make them a vital part of families, friends, faith groups, and teams.  When we understand our niche, our influence on the world grows exponentially.  We Pursue purpose through using our gifts to better our communities.  We celebrate those who have found purpose and cheer on others to discover theirs.

#2

EXCELLENCE 

“We are what we repeatedly do.  Excellence, then, is not an act,
​but a habit." 
Aristotle

When we are continually working to prepare for tomorrow’s challenges, we Pursue excellence.  It requires an aggressive striving to be better than yesterday.  The effort required makes the excellent rare and inspiring to those who are not willing to put in the work.  Never satisfied with the standard, excellence requires us to continually improve on our current selves to become greater than what we are.

#3

VITALITY 

“Because it’s there.”  
George Mallory

We all have a mountain to climb.  This world offers many trials and obstacles, an offer that is not a condemnation, but an opportunity to overcome and excel.  Life can be easy for those who do not wish to fully live.  Those who Pursue the summit will be rewarded with new strength and perspective.  The act of building muscle requires the tearing of muscle fibers to build back stronger than before.  In the same way, the tribulations that we have endured enhance our ability to act and grow in the world.  There will be challenges in our lives, but we should meet them head on.

#4

PROGRESS

“Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress.” 
Mahatma Gandhi
​
We do not accept the way things have always been done.  No one who has ever advanced humanity has accepted that mantra.  Though we stand on the shoulders of giants, they knew that the work was not done… And so do we.  A continuous learning is required for those who do not want to become stagnant.  In the Pursuit of advancement, we must shake ourselves of our comforts and apathy.

​#5

CREATIVITY 

"The world is but a vans to our imagination."
Henry David Thoreau 

Expression takes many forms and has evolved over the centuries, but one thing is certain, people will continue to find ways to create. Whether through paint, song, fashion, architecture, writing, engineering, or photography, human beings continue to encapsulate that which cannot be contained. Our imagination drives the creation of new mediums, advancements, ways to communicate and most importantly our shared communication. This endless Pursuit continues to bring us all closer to one another. 

#6

FAMILY 

"If you go anywhere, even paradise, you will miss your home"
Malala Yousafzai 

We never forget where we come from. Our parents know the pitfalls we are likely to encounter and train us to avoid them or to cope effectively with them. The Pursuit of the past cleans much wisdom. Even the most ancient legends still hold value for our lives today. The wealth of experience that we come into in this age was made possible by those who came before. We believe our ancestors smile on our work, and it is our duty that their legacy lives on through the next generation as well. We are rooted by the work of generations before, and we plan to grow so that the next generation may flourish. 

#7

HONOR

"Never esteem anything as of advantage to you that will make you break your word or lose your self-respect."
Marcus Aurelius. 

We are Pursuing the revitalization of the spirit of the founders held when Mossy Creek was first established in 1788. It is our mission to do right by them as well as the current members of what is now Jefferson City. We will be ambassadors to this heritage. It is incredibly humbling to be working in this community and serving the great East Tennessee. Therefore, we choose the hard right over the easy wrong. Our word is our bond. We will toast our successes and admit our failures. We owe it to our town to do so.