This issue is packed with “people power.” People who, through collaboration, passion, perseverance, and action, have effected meaningful change in our communities. People like our 2024 Possibilitarians, featured on page 78. Their stories prove that being a “possibilitarian” is a mindset that focuses on positive possibilities and solutions rather than limitations.
While we often concentrate on beautiful and interesting places found around the state, it is our people who make each of these places more memorable. After recently spending the night at Pipestem Resort State Park, I asked the person behind the check-in desk what was her favorite place to go in the area that most people don’t know about. She said, “Brush Creek Falls.” So, I entered it into my GPS and away I went. This place is pure enchantment—it is also the reason I now travel with a travel-sized fly rod in the trunk of my car. Not far into the hike, you can hear the low rumble of the waterfall, but nothing prepares you for how breathtaking it is. I climbed down the hillside so I could get a closer look. The photo on this cover is from that moment and doesn’t do it justice. It was glorious.
When Pam Kasey was working on our hiking feature, she said she was filled with gratitude for the people who have built our hiking trails—those who’ve problem-solved daily to get rights-of-way, raised money, hired contractors, rallied volunteers, paved, repaired, promoted, and expanded—often through wilderness. It’s monumental. Going out and using the trails is the LEAST we can do to honor all that work. We hope you’re inspired to hit the trails after reading our info-packed feature on hiking trails around the state on page 64.
Another special place that I would never have known about if it weren’t for a group of passionate community members is Blue Sulphur Springs (page 74). A little over 10 years ago, my now-husband, architect Michael Mills, took me on a site visit to this historic structure. He’d been hired by Greenbrier Historical Society to save this pavilion, the only remaining structure of Blue Sulphur Springs Resort. Even in its disrepair, it struck a dramatic pose in the middle of a field hemmed in by neighboring hills. What struck me most was the passion of those community members determined to save it. There were lots of obstacles, and I witnessed them firsthand in pouring rain, blizzards, and tornado-like winds. Yet, this dynamic team stayed the course. I never once thought they wouldn’t succeed. They, too, are possibilitarians. It took over a decade, lots of fundraising and volunteers, and help from multiple federal and state organizations like the West Virginia Department of Arts, Culture, and History, but this past July, Michael and I attended the celebratory unveiling. The work of just a handful of people has saved a state treasure for generations to come.
This double issue also contains our annual WV Living Healthy, which showcases our 2024 Champions of Care, featured on page 106. Nurses are the heartbeat of health care. In moments of vulnerability, it is often the compassionate presence of a nurse that brings solace to those in need. Just read these stories. Their empathy transcends medical treatment, and I would argue is one of the most important ingredients to healing.
Each of us brings unique talents, knowledge, and ideas to the table, contributing to the richness and vitality of our communities. My sincere hope is that this issue inspires you to embrace empathy and compassion as a transformative force to help foster a sense of belonging in your own community. Yes, ordinary people, just like you and me, have the ability to shape the trajectory of a town and enhance the well-being of the individuals who live there.
Spring into motion,
Nikki Bowman Mills, Editor
Our Spring 2024 issue will be shipping the week of March 25, so there’s still time to subscribe!
READ MORE ARTICLES FROM WV LIVING’S SPRING 2024 ISSUE
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