Talk isn't Just Talk

In the season 1 finale of The Diplomat, Hal Wyler delivers a line that’s stuck with me:

“Diplomacy never works… until it does.”

It’s a fictional speech, sure — but it rings true in real life. Especially in local government. Especially in a town like North Andover.

I’ve heard a lot of great ideas in places that don’t come with microphones: on the baseball and soccer sidelines, in line at Rocky's, at the bar at Brix or simply when out walking the Common. Some of those conversations were light and quick. Others dug into harder stuff: traffic, budgets, town growth, the pace of progress.

Sometimes it can feel like talking doesn’t change anything. But over the years, I’ve seen the opposite. A neighbor’s comment leads to a question at a meeting. A parent’s concern about safety sparks a traffic study. A business owner’s idea leads to a bylaw change. One small conversation at a time, we improve.

The truth is: good policy starts with good listening. And no single person has the full picture.

Whether you’ve stopped me in passing, emailed a concern, or flagged something in a parking lot, thank you. Those moments matter more than you might think.

I’m going to keep showing up, keep listening, and keep having the conversations that, over time, move us forward.

Because talking doesn’t change things…

Until it does.