This past week, a co-worker tried something new.

It takes a lot of guts to try new things – particularly when it has to do with food, which this did.

But, Hailey took the plunge and tried something she had vowed she would never do – eat sushi.

We were at Kabuki in Montgomery, which is my favorite place to eat sushi.

She decided to start off light. Instead of having a roll with a big chunk of raw tuna on top, Hailey went for a shrimp tempura roll.

Even though she figured the fried shrimp would be fine, the rest of the roll – particularly the seaweed – concerned her.

But, she put the roll in her mouth and started chewing. And chewed. And chewed. And chewed. (In fact, she entertained a couple at the table next to us. They watched to see what her reaction would be).

To her credit, she didn’t make too much of a face, even though she didn’t like the sushi at all.

But, at least she tried it, which is more than a lot of people would do, so I give her credit for that. And now she knows for sure that she she doesn’t care for the dish.

Okay, so what’s the point?

For Selma and Dallas County to progress, there will have to be some changes.

Folks who are used to things being the same will have to be willing to try something new. (I’m not saying they’ll have to try sushi, although I think having a sushi bar in Selma would be great. How about a soul roll?)

This change, however, will not be about food.

It will be about trying new ideas, and accepting new people.

People will have to open their minds and think outside the box.

The National Park Service is going to open an Interpretive Center here, at the corner of Water Avenue and Broad Street.

Hopefully, that will bring more visitors to the area.

In addition, there are some new business ventures lining up to come to Selma.

Along with those ventures will be new faces.

That’s a good thing.

The status quo will no doubt get shaken up a little bit.

Seems like most local residents are ready for a little change, but will we embrace it when it comes?

We talk about wanting change and progress, but how willing are we to step out on a ledge and try something new?

There’s an old saying: “Everything rises and falls on leadership.”

There’s truth to that. Our elected officials, as well as business and civic leaders, should take the lead, welcoming newcomers and new ventures.

They also have to be willing to break down barriers that have separated us in the past.

For progress to come to Selma, we must be willing to take risks and to shake things up a little.

Who knows, maybe we’ll even end up with a sushi bar in town. At the least, we have the opportunity to pull the community together.

Tammy Leytham is editor of The Selma Times-Journal.