Well, Hi there!

After a month and a half of dreaming, building, interviewing, and injecting myself into this project, launch day is finally upon us. I can’t wait to show you an insider scoop on who makes up the community of Mt. Juliet and why it’s such a welcoming place to live. My name is Sylvia Rico, and I’m the creator of Hi There, Mt. Juliet!

Can I be honest for a second? I began this project of finding our neighbors and taking the time to get to know them a little better because… I was tired of being lonely. I’ve lived in Mt. Juliet since 2021, and I found myself keeping to my little island, not bothering anybody, not letting anybody bother me. But then I’d go to Charlie Daniel’s park and people would be there hosting birthday parties, I’d hear people come together in my neighborhood to light fireworks, I’d see that people were gathering—and I simply wasn’t part of it.

I felt sad about that. If everyone else is finding their village, why can’t I? I’m a pretty nice person, if you’ve ever met me. At some point, I discovered a common denominator: my own darn self. I am not getting out and meeting people. I am not finding my village.

Then I started digging into my job as a real estate agent. I discovered that any stranger is just one salutation away from becoming a friend. And here in Tennessee, if you greet people with the warmth of the Southern summer sun, you can make friends with anyone. Once I started meeting people and making connections, I finally felt the embrace of the Mt. Juliet community and found my own place in it. And I wanted other people to know that they could find their place here, too. I decided to create a place where people could find their village! And that’s how Hi There, Mt. Juliet was born! I hope to connect people from all walks of life and help our neighbors know their neighbors better!

So what is the Mt. Juliet community like? I hope to discover more about that as I interview our neighbors, but here’s what I’ve discovered thus far: Mt. Juliet is a place where your average, everyday family can build a home. Anyone can start a small business and thrive. And the small businesses here support each other in a community of love. People move to Mt. Juliet, see a lack or a need, and build it themselves so everyone can partake in the beauty of diversity and wholeness. How does Mt. Juliet have such a variety of people who can call this home and yet reflect the home-grown vibe of Tennessee? I’m still not sure. But it’s beautiful, and loving, and I can’t wait to meet more of you and put up a mirror to the precious community we are part of.

With love, Sylvia