Jill's Journal: Inspired by the word ... and you

Wow.

That’s about all I can say as Brandon Valley Media Group begins its seventh year of publishing the Brandon Valley Journal and Brandon Valley Trader.

Over the last six years, it’s been a crazy, but oh, such a memorable ride, and I’m surely not ready to get off this ride just yet.

Over these last six years, I’ve learned a lot about things I’d never given much 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 many a sleepless night, countless talks with the Good Lord on many of those sleepless nights, during a drive out to Rapid City for state wrestling or basketball or track and even while standing in front of the bathroom mirror mindlessly blow-drying my hair.

If I’m honest, when we first began Brandon Valley Media Group, I questioned myself and what I was pursuing, more so those questions came when things got tough or confusing or overwhelming. 

Those moments happened. 

Often.

But there have been other moments – those positive, uplifting moments – no matter how big or small that has 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 and our print and online products to life.

Many of those moments of encouragement when I needed it most came from many of you. They’ve come in the aisles of Sunshine. They’ve happened at the post office, the bank, at church, at the ballpark, the golf course, the sidelines of the football field, and even the bar. They’ve come 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. 

Early on, a handwritten memo from one of our dedicated subscribers, Dale Carstens, continues to put a smile on my face every time I catch a glimpse of it. And it catches my eye often. The note – “Glad your back, Jill!! Give ‘em hell!” – you see, is pinned on a bulletin board on the wall next to my desk. 

It’s funny to think that seven simple, little words could be so inspiring. 

But they are. 

The Good Lord willing, I hope that those seven, simple little words will continue to inspire myself and my team for many more 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 to learn from. I suspect I’ll have many more countless talks with the Good Lord on sleepless nights, during a drive west or while I stand in front of the bathroom mirror mindlessly blow-drying my hair. 

But ultimately, it’s the folks who invested in an idea, the written word, and this place that I’ve considered home for just shy of 20 years now that inspired the creation of Brandon Valley Media Group.

And of course, I can’t forget about those seven simple little words on a handwritten note pinned to a bulletin board that keeps us plunking out a weekly newspaper and documenting our daily life.

Thanks, for subscribing, reading and supporting a dream come true. 

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Please stop by the Brandon Valley Journal office, 1404 E. Cedar St., this Thursday and Friday for our anniversary celebration and discounts on your subscription.

As always, we’ll have cake.