Jill's Journal: Inspired by the Word
By:
Jill Meier, Journal editor
Jill Meier, Journal editor
Wow.
That’s about all I can say as the first official issues of the Brandon Valley Journal and Brandon Valley Trader rolled off of the press this week.
Wow...it’s been a crazy ride.
Over these last seven months, I’ve learned a lot about things I’d never given a thought about before. I’ve made tons of decisions along the way. Some were great; others, well, let’s just say we learn from our mistakes.
I’ve had more sleepless nights than I can count leading up to this very moment. And countless talks with the good Lord on many of those sleepless nights, during a drive to my mom’s house or while I was standing in front of the mirror mindlessly blow-drying my hair. I’ll be honest, I questioned myself and what I was pursuing when things got tough or confusing or overwhelming.
Those moments happened.
Often.
But there were other moments – those positive, uplifting moments – no matter how big or small that kept me plunging forward, making that next call to learn more as I found who and what I needed to bring Brandon Valley Media Group, LLC, and our print and online products to life.
And those moments of encouragement when I needed it most came from many of you. They came in the aisles of Sunshine. They happened at the post office, the bank, at church, as I walked up and down Holly Boulevard snapping photos at Automania, the ballpark, the golf course and even the bar. They came in Facebook posts, text messages, phone calls, emails and even the old-fashioned way, handwritten notes and letters.
I’ve cherished them all – each and every one of them.
One of the notes, a handwritten memo from Dale Carstens, puts a smile on my face every time I catch a glimpse of it. And it catches my eye often, pinned on the bulletin board on the wall next to my desk: “Glad you’re back, Jill! Give ‘em hell!”
It’s funny to think that that seven simple, little words could be so inspiring.
But they are.
And they will continue to do just that in the weeks and months and years to come.
I realize there’s more to learn, oodles of questions to be asked, and more decisions – good and bad – to be made and possibly learn from. I suspect I’ll have many more talks with the good Lord on sleepless nights, during a drive to my mom’s or standing at the mirror mindlessly blow-drying my hair.
But ultimately, it’s the written word, all of you and this place that I’ve considered home for more than a dozen years now that inspired me to take this leap – a bigger than usual leap, mind you – and ironically so, it turns out those seven simple, little words on a handwritten note is just the right daily dose of inspiration a girl could ever need.
