Hello, everyone! I’m Lisa Resnick, a girl who started out in sunny California but found my roots right here in Ohio.

Growing up, I couldn’t stop talking about how I was going to leave and never look back. Remember the saying, “Once from Ohio, always from Ohio”? Many have tried to escape but always seem to return.

I truly believed I would break that mold since I wasn’t born here. That was my secret weapon. I thought I would leave Ohio only for the occasional visit. But here I am at 47, almost 48, back in the heart of it all.

My first attempt to leave was after my first semester at Youngstown State University. I packed up and moved to sunny Arizona to live with my dad. A year later, I found myself enrolling at YSU again.

My second attempt was more successful. I built a beautiful family in Virginia, thrived in my career, and made some amazing friends. But over time, I realized something was missing.

I could be happy there, but the longing in my heart kept growing. I was missing a piece of myself.

I’m no fool; I knew coming back meant facing something new. I had been gone for over a decade. Things change. I changed, this area changed, people changed. Starting from scratch at 40 was daunting. But I still wanted it.

So, what is it about this area that pulls people back?

It’s not our booming economy, which is still finding its footing. It’s not the majestic mountains; we are the Valley, after all. It’s not the echoes of what used to be. It’s the people, not our pride, not our grit. It’s more than that. It’s the connections.

Nowhere else have I seen such deep-rooted connections, from childhood friends to adulthood, extended family, teachers and students. These connections are what make us special and what draw people back. That’s what we miss when we go away. That’s why we say, it’s a great place to raise a family.

Even in the short time I’ve been back, the connections I’ve made are incredibly valuable and it was exactly what I was missing. That’s what I needed to receive, and that’s what I wanted to give back. It’s crazy simple but so true.

Actually, that’s how you’re reading my first published article today – through the connections I’ve made. If we could package that up, talk about it and market it for the world to see and feel, every real estate agent would have a waiting list of clients ready to move here. After all, digital nomads are expected to grow to over 35 million by 2030.

So, this is from me to you, to help you see the worth of our hometown. As long as we focus on what makes us unique and strong, I truly believe everything will fall into place.

The goal of this column and all those that follow is to connect, make you remember or think of something differently. It’s all personal, from me to you.

Mother, author, entrepreneur, and founder of Dandelion-Inc, Lisa Resnick wants to hear your story. Share memories with her by emailing lisa@dandelion-inc.com.