Why Pickstown?

It’s simple. I’m sitting on a picnic table, looking over the water on an 80 degree day (thank God for shade) at 2PM on Tuesday afternoon.

Okay, so I’m sitting in my home office on a Saturday morning with the off shore breeze blowing in but you get the point. The option is still there.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Pickstown, it’s a small, dare I say, retirement and tourist community in South Dakota. It’s beautiful lake homes sit on the Missouri river with campers and cabins not too far down the road. It’s peaceful. It offers as a great vacation in the summer with swimming, boating, fishing, kayaking, golfing (frisbees included) and good old fashion hospitality.

Don’t Knock It Until You’ve Tried It

If you keep up to date on my blogs, I’ve hinted that my itch to move and explore a new adventure was on fire. I wanted to move to Sioux Falls, then to Rapid City (still my dream goal) and then landed somewhere in between, literallly. Pickstown, South Dakota. Hometown of NBC Nightly news anchor, Tom Brokaw. Look it up. It’s roaring population of 215 people and absence of a grocery store can be a turn off to some. To me, it’s familiar water that I’ve physically never had to tread. Even Colome had Dan’s Grocery Store!

“Growing” in a career always translates to growing in life. Personally, I believe it is easier to speak to a situation if you have been through it or if you’ve at least dipped your toes in the water. In my career, I spend my weeks communicating (shocker, I know). I open the phone line to people in Pensacola, Florida and Portland, Oregon (Hi, Izzy!). I email clients in the southside of Chicago or to my teammates down our green carpeted hall. Once upon a time in a job interview, I mentioned how I like to have different experiences so I can relate to people. It’s how I used to sell phonebook ads. Do you know how hard it is to sell phonebook ads as a 20-year-old? You get the constant, “Do you even use one of these anymore?” While my typical answer was “no, but buy a Facebook button, we’re all doing it”, I had to find a common ground. Do you like the Denver Broncos? How do you think Von Miller will do this year? Or my favorite, sharing deals. Going on a vacation to Seattle? Okay, here’s the top ten happy hours and must see views from my experience living in the PNW. As Blake Shelton sings, “You wouldn't know to love it like I love it unless you lived it.” Our experiences in life are what make us unique. Sure, you can go on family trips or girls’ trips with friends, but each person has a different interpretation of the experience. So go. Go wherever the wind takes you because somehow bargaining with the banana stand guy will lead to a life lesson.

History repeats itself

My high school history teacher remarked the words “It’s not where you start, but where you finish.” While he said it in reflection of the girls’ basketball season, his voice rings in my mind daily. Whether it’s tokens about the Boston Tea Party or inspirational life phrases, he was right. Our journey isn’t about being a spoon-fed kid or low-income strategist, but who we are striving to be. Who we practice each day on being. Personally, my new living arrangement allows me to be a nature enthusiast with weekends to spend at family dinner rather than driving 5 hours home. It’s where I want to finish. This “town” is a bundle package of peaceful neighbors and friendly smiles. It’s what we need in this world. The riots, the pandemic and the tension in the Middle East deserve the attention they are getting no matter what side of the isle you land on. If we don’t stop, ask ourselves how we can be better and make the change then history will repeat itself. We will have a Civil War, our loved ones will die and wearing a mask into the store will be the least of our worries. We shouldn’t strive to be the same, we should dare to be different.

It’s been about a week since I’ve moved into the riverside town. I’ve learned a running route, Randal Hills Country Club happy hour and the lady down the street sells Prairie Berry from her house. I think I’ll be okay. As my new neighbors have stuttered and I welcome to you, the reader, “if you stop down and I’m outside. Come in for a beer.” Because sitting down, having a conversation, and relating to other humans, answers your why and opens your eyes.