This is Part III of an October Challenge: Who Would You like to Meet Live and in Person?  suggested by Donna Foerster of the ActiveRain Community.

As a recap of my October 8^th post, To Blog or Not to Blog - That is the Question  I received an overwhelming response from some amazing people here on ActiveRain. The individual comments were meaningful and insightful. In retrospect, I learn a lot about people when they reveal something that strikes a chord within me and in doing so I learn a lot more about myself. The objective for this 3 part post is all about REFLECTION.

I began to reflect on who I would choose and why? My thoughts drifted into the clouds, I wondered…. Who do I choose without hurting anyone’s feelings, especially since there are so many people I have become very fond of here on ActiveRain? I was driving around previewing homes when I came to an intersection in Flower Mound and I saw this interesting street sign. I was looking at houses & thinking about my own challenge here on ActiveRain. There are so many gifted writers, talented professionals, interesting characters that make me laugh, smile, think, wonder, and challenge me to become a better person. Three people came to mind; however, after I wrote the post To Blog or Not to Blog - That is the Question  it caused me to think back, reflect on what my life was like in the beginning, when I didn’t have a clue what to say, how to write a post, where to begin, and how do I get people interested in what I have to say? Suddenly, there was a correlation between learning how to sell Real Estate and how to Blog.

I turned the corner and decided to pick and feature three different individuals that made an impact on me.  Each one gave me pause to reflect and learn something about myself.  Today, it’s all about Rebecca Gaujot of Lewisburg WV, Real Estate, Greenbrier County from Coldwell Banker Stuart & Watts Real Estate.  

To introduce you to Rebecca, I can think of no better place to start than one of her latest posts told to you through a story written by one of her own clients: My Very Happy Out-of-State Buyers.

What I like about Rebecca’s post the Out-of-State Buyers is their determination to leave Alaska and spend the time to find their perfect retirement home. Like many people who start a quest they began with expectations and a belief. But left on their own, they became lost; somewhat abandoned. With determination to get back on course, they found someone different, they discovered the same characteristics and values I discovered about blogging on ActiveRain and REBECCA GAUJOT of Lewisburg WV, Real Estate, Greenbrier County from Coldwell Banker Stuart & Watts Real Estate.

As the story goes, the buyers continued their journey because of Rebecca. She made a difference in helping them to achieve their goals. She listened. When it came to their needs, she never stopped. Through all the excitement, she was there. Thanks to Rebecca, they became aware of what they were looking for which resulted in achieving their goals.

Rebecca’s buyers discovered the same qualities I learned about her. The buyers summed it up perfectly - she possesses the gift of blending professionalism with the feeling of being in the company of a longtime friend.

I reflected and remembered what it was like to start a blog. I didn’t know the difference between a blog and a post. I felt lost, confused, sometimes abandoned by my own fault! I didn't think I had any talent. Oh sure, I always enjoyed writing, keeping a personal journal, taking pictures since I was 8 years old, writing letters at age 16 to my penpal in the Army, writing long letters to accompany Christmas cards and thank you cards... but a blog? Where the public could see what I am writing? My word! I did not want my words to be copied, laughed at, questioned, or open for public debate.  I was uncomfortable and it showed in how I expressed myself on my blog. I wondered what was the right way to write in a public setting and what was this thing called ActiveRain?

As I became more comfortable with my writing style, I added photos. I took the picture then formulated the words to accompany the photographs. And just as I became slightly comfortable, members were challenged to try YouTube videos. For me, that was like diving into a deep pool without knowing how to swim. I reached out to Rebecca. She listened. She never stopped coaching me. Through all the excitement, she was there. Thanks to Rebecca, I became aware that she was helping me to achieve my goals. Rebecca has a history of helping others to achieve success.

What I like about Rebecca is her compassionate heart and intelligence - talk about smart, SHE IS SMART! She is a natural born road map to success! She has written so many posts about community events that add value to her community. For example this is one of the many ways she reaches out to her community: Call for Artists to Participate in Habitat's Salvage Art Show and Auction.

There are many artists and charitable events that Rebecca is not afraid to get involved with and she motivates others to get involved too. She is well known and one of the top REALTORS® in her area.

There are many things I learn from reading Rebecca’s posts, such as the love she has for her home town and the people that comes into contact with her on a regular basis. A REALTOR works 24/7; yet she still finds time to promote volunteerism, such as in the following post: Volunteers Needed to Complete Housing for Families in Time for the Holidays . Rebecca knows how to motivate others.

And then there is the human side, the side I love best about Rebecca. She comes from a big family. Tenderly she shared a story about making time for her sisters:  Monday Blessing, a Day with My Sisters. Seriously, one value that shines through brightly in many of her posts is that Rebecca is family oriented. When you get to know her, she's a big sister to everyone, regardless of age. It's true, even if you think you're older than her, she's like a big sister with a BIG HEART! She is someone you can count on and if you read between the lines in what she comments on to others, you know she cares.

Most of us already know that West Virginia is a beautiful state. It’s filled with history, interesting people, famous places, and interesting things to do. People as far away as Alaska desire to make it their retirement home West Virginia and they have succeeded because of this lady. I know Rebecca has chosen WV as the place where she plans to retire. I think of my friend Rebecca as West Virginia’s First Lady. She is the REALTOR of choice, the one who shares a compassionate heart. With her zest for life, southern accent, and strong work ethic and belief system, she is not afraid to profess her faith. Rebecca knows how to help when help is needed and she lives life to the fullest. Please subscribe to Rebecca Gaujot’s post and get to know one of the greatest ladies here on ActiveRain.

©Patricia Feager 10/17/2013