If life is, as the old saying goes, a journey, every now and then, it’s a good idea to stop, look around and take stock of one’s position.

Knowing where you are is vital to figuring out the direction you are headed and, more important, if you can likely get there with a reasonable amount of certainty.

That’s exactly what the Natchez Downtown Development Association did recently as it participated in an asset-mapping project.

The venture, called “First Impressions,” is a partnership between the Mississippi Development Authority and Mississippi State University.

First impressions are truly difficult to gauge sometimes. Consider two people who meet for the first time.

Did he like the way I look?

Did she think I was funny?

In terms of human relationships, first impressions are massively important, often a guessing game, but rarely second-guessed.

The same goes for our historic city, too.

The “First Impressions” project is still a work in progress, but the goal is simple, yet powerful: See what first time visitors to Natchez think.

From those “first impressions” a presentation can be made showing what outsiders see as Natchez’s best assets, our worst assets and which assets need improvement.

The findings will be presented at a town hall meeting at 5 p.m., Oct. 14 at the city council chambers on Pearl Street.

How interesting it may be to see what others view as our best features and the ones that need a little make-up.

Thanks to the NDDA for recognizing the value of this project and making it happen.