Listening

It took me a little time, but I eventually developed a better sense of listening to the world around me. It may sound odd, but every time a turn comes in the road of life, I stop to listen.

If you didn’t know, I was a teacher when I first graduated college. I was wondering what to do when I finished school. I had applied to graduate programs for Medical Physics. I was turned down at every program I submitted an application to. I stopped. I listened. A small school back home needed a math teacher. I applied and got the job. My first big kid job was a math and science teacher at Bishop Walsh School in Cumberland, MD. I loved teaching. I did not love the environment. I stopped to listen.

My heart told me to go back to school and try something different. So I did. All that math, physics, and chemistry was fun, but what about biology? Let’s try that. So I did. And I loved every minute of it. I thought to myself, “what the heck do you do with a biology degree?” As I listened, I heard other students talking about applying to medical school. So I started volunteering. Then I sat for my MCAT. Then I applied to medical schools.

As a typical pre-med student, I had my list of schools I wanted to go to. I had my interviews lined up. My first interview on the trail was at WVU SOM in Morgantown. I went to that interview and absolutely felt at home. After, as I was driving back to Baltimore, I called my parents and told them that if I didn’t get into WVU SOM, then I wasn’t meant to go to medical school. I wrote emails and canceled the remainder of my interviews. Shortly after, I got my letter of acceptance to WVU SOM.

During medical school, I didn’t really know what I wanted to do. I had thoughts of going into Oncology because of my personal history. As I went through my third year rotations, I found that I loved every rotation I was on. I couldn’t imagine removing any of the services I was exposed to. Then I found Family Medicine. It was my perfect fit. When I stopped to listen, one of my attending physicians told me about their rural health program that allowed early placement into the residency program outside of the typical match. I applied and got my spot.

Fast forward a few years. I’m a second year resident doing rural rotations in Buckhannon, WV, with Dr. Gregory Peters at Community Care. We were going back and forth between his offices in Buckhannon and Rock Cave. One day, his schedule was particularly light. He looked at me and said, “Garrett, it’s a beautiful day and you should go do something fun.” So I said thanks and stepped out of the office. When I stopped to listen, my heart told me to explore. So instead of driving back up 79 to Morgantown, I headed East on 33 towards Elkins.

As I drove through Elkins the first time, it just caught me. It’s hard to explain the exact feeling, but it felt right. I continued my drive towards Harman and up to Canaan. As my cell phone reception came back in, I made my first call. My mom. I said, “Mom, I found out where I want to live.” Then I made my second call. My wife. I said, “hon(yeah Bawlmer!), I need to start applying for jobs in the Elkins area, I think we’re supposed to live there.” So that’s exactly what I did.

Interestingly, DM wasn’t hiring at the time. Or at least they weren’t advertising for any spots. I submitted applications to Stonewall, Minnie Hamilton, and Webster Springs. I got a few job offers, but none of them felt right. When I stopped to listen, I had the notion that perhaps I’d just write an email to the recruiter at DM and see if they’d be interested. The recruiter returned my email immediately and said that they would love to have me down. Interestingly, this was only February, and the suggestion was to come down some time in the late spring or early summer when the weather was better. I countered that I’d love to see it as soon as they were ready to have me. So we went down for an interview in the cold, snowy chill of February. Shortly after, I got my job offer. I stopped to listen, but knew it was right.

As you can tell, when I stop to listen, I’m listening to my heart, to the winds, to whatever heavenly body you believe in. Even since coming to Elkins, I’ve stopped to listen. It helps when I need to make the right decision.

Last summer, an ad popped up on my Facebook feed. It said, “Own a piece of history! Come bid on the IOOF Group Home!” I did a little research and looked at all the photos. To be honest, I didn’t anticipate that I’d even win the bid. I talked about it with my wife. I half mentioned it to my friends at work. I’m not even confident I actually asked my parents about it. However, when I stopped to listen the night before I physically placed my bid, I felt compelled and knew exactly how much to bid. Even after, I rarely checked the site to see how my bid was doing. I had the thought that I probably wouldn’t get it, but deep down, I was hoping.

Then the day hit and I got the call. My prior post said it all. After that call and before I got dressed to go sign papers, I stopped to listen. I chuckled. I had been talking about my dream care home for almost a decade at that point. I kept telling myself and the people closest to me, that I’d get to it someday. Eventually. Well God decided to give me the gut check. I listened. I said yes.

Now is the time for action, so that’s what I’m doing. Granted, we may have a few hiccups along the way. Political influences aside, I may have some funding and I may not. My primary goal is to take this one day at a time. I continue to listen. The answers will come. The funding will come. The project will progress.

I have faith that what we’re doing is going to make an amazing impact on our community. It will set the stage for elder care and the integration of self sufficiency and education with the community. The only limitation we have is our imagination.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. It’s just the beginning.

So for today, if you’re questioning something in your life, stop, and listen.