Did you ever see somebody for the first time and think to yourself that she seems healthy or smart or stuck up or insecure? We size each other up pretty quickly, almost eerily so. They say that it takes only a few seconds to make that first impression, whether for a job or on a date.

How does that happen? We seem to possess a mysterious power to take in somebody at a glance and process all sorts of details until we reach a tentative conclusion. Now, you might have no real evidence that the woman is particularly smart. You do not know her IQ, her GPA, her class rank, the last degree she earned. She might not have said a word, yet for some reason you concluded that she’s intelligent.

To be sure, we often get things wrong. We do judge a book by its cover and jump to conclusions. People have surprised us. There was a time folks assumed that Dolly Parton was none too bright, but she had the last laugh. We were, um, distracted into making false inferences based on her voice, her manner, and of course her ample appearance.  Turns out the gal has business savvy.

Sometimes, it helps to slow things down and concentrate on the little things, the subtle clues, to make sure we are not being misled. Commentators analyze presidential candidates to the nth degree. A divorced woman might take a good, hard look before she falls for the wrong kind of man again. Even in basketball, a really good defender knows not to fall for the head fakes and other distractions.

In other words, you learn to break things down and pay close attention to details. You also ignore the tricks people use to influence your judgment. When you consider buying a house, for example, do you fixate on the darling flower arrangement in the hallway? You had better not. You had better be looking at workmanship, wear, evidence of repair, and the like. 

Which brings me to this week’s topic, namely the impression that cities make on first time visitors. When people drive in to get gas, see an old army buddy, or pass through on their way to the casinos, what is their snap opinion, based on what little evidence they get from highway exits, intersections, property facades, and the types of restaurants up and down the bypass?

Many are the times that I run out to Wal-Mart totally indifferent to how I seem. I’m not out to impress anybody. I just need a few items. But there are occasions when my appearance really matters, and I really do want to make an impression, so I slow things down, pay attention to the little stuff such as my clothes, my breath, whether there is a piece of spinach stuck to my teeth.

The city of Greensburg as a community has a stake in its appearance, in attracting investment and the positive regard of its neighbors. We would be fools, according to the very definition of the term, to neglect our appearance and then wish for better outcomes. And to be brutally honest, when you clean up a bit, put on a suit, splash a little aftershave on your neck, and stand up a little straighter, you feel better about yourself. You can even make an impression on yourself.

Appearances do matter. They also take some effort.