Why We Stay - WV Living Magazine

Writer Kathleen Jacobs reflects on what keeps her roots firmly planted in the Mountain State.

written by and images courtesy of KATHLEEN M. JACOBS

“The sun does not always shine in West Virginia, but the people always do, and I’m delighted to be here.”

— President John F. Kennedy, 1963

The above words are not only remembered by every West Virginian, young and young at heart, but are often repeated as a mantra, as a powerful force to keep putting one foot in front of the other. The president continued his remarks on that rainy day in Charleston to remind every West Virginian, and all the nation, that the state’s birth was “an offspring of strife, turmoil, and tension.” However, “I know of no state—and I know this state well—whose people feel more strongly, who have a greater sense of pride in themselves, in their state, and their country, than the people of West Virginia.” Sixty years later, his words still resonate. And these words continue to hold the strength of an undeniable conviction that resounds from the depths of our valleys to the highest peaks of our mountains.

Over the past two years, as my husband found it vital to relocate to New York City in order to continue to move his company forward, I have sought solace in the words gifted by President Kennedy so long ago as I remain steadfast in my decision to return to our home in Charleston with every visit I make to New York City. My determination and perseverance are deeply planted. And while neither of us anticipated the amount of time needed in the city, my experiences there have led me to consider more deeply than ever before why I stay in West Virginia, why we continue to call West Virginia home.

Each time I left Charleston to spend some time with John in the city, I watched as the hills and valleys receded and were replaced by wide open spaces and a sea of humanity rushing to accomplish what was so often accompanied by uncertainty and a vision that seemed more foggy than clear. Each departure from West Virginia left behind not only a topography that invited exploration and a union with the forest floor, but also a lifestyle and a mindset that reassured me of the strong convictions, clarity, and vision for a future that brought hope and promise even in the midst of so many challenges. This is part of what defines West Virginia and the Appalachian region.

In fact, it’s often West Virginia’s challenges that attract people to its potential. There’s nothing quite like a challenge to entice people to act, certain that they can and will roll up their sleeves, step up to the plate, and get the job done, because we have a history of doing just that. Make no mistake about it; as realists, we know it most certainly will not be easy, but that has never stopped a West Virginian, “native” or not. In fact, it often propels West Virginians to dig their heels in even deeper. You see, the point is to shine a light on what is brought to the table, whether born and raised in the state or arriving for the first time—as I did as an 11-year-old—putting down roots, settling in a community, and committing our collective energies to increasing the wattage of that brilliance, never letting it wane.

If you’re waiting for me to list the culinary, cultural, and artistic opportunities waiting to be experienced in West Virginia alongside those from New York City, they are each so obvious that to list them would restate what West Virginians already know. There is, though, one certain identifying factor that links West Virginians one to the other, and that is in abundance—one that I have yet to discover in New York City: the recognition and importance of the human factor, the rich profusion of those “lovely intangibles” which West Virginians cling to tightly, knowing their true value. And in that knowledge, we continue to put one foot in front of the other and move forward at a pace that will produce a rich harvest, inviting all to the feast.