By Sherri Coner
As an active, interested member of the community, Blythe Potter pays attention to what’s currently happening while she also envisions possibilities.
Potter, her husband, Michael and the youngest of their three daughters fondly call Bargersville home. Potter also co-owns Bargersville Wellness, a business she and Ashley Auld opened in May 2019.
Potter’s heart for community involvement leads her to juggle a demanding schedule enough to volunteer with Johnson County causes such as Assist Indiana, Leadership Johnson County, Every Kid Eats Johnson County and Greenwood Pride.
“We host the silent tent,” Potter said of Greenwood Pride.” This year, we are adding a glitter station for hair glitter.”
Potter is so passionate about linking downtown Bargersville with all other residential areas and businesses that she is running for Bargersville Town Council.
“I love growth,” she said. “And as a business owner here, I want to see growth. But I also want to see walkable and accessible sidewalks and trails.”
What do you consider your greatest virtue? I believe my values and virtues are ethical, inclusive and kind.
What human trait do you most dislike? You know the people who vehemently stand in what they claim is their truth and refuse to hear others or communicate non-violently? That trait. Whatever that is, I dislike that the most.
What do you like most about living in Johnson County? The potential! We are literally a blank slate for so much positive change and growth both economically but also eco-consciously.
If you had to live somewhere other than in Johnson County, where would it be? Sweden
If you could begin life over, what would you change? I wouldn’t. I really love the people around me and the place I am in life. I would never risk not having my family and my people that I have now (nor do I want to redo the mistakes I have had to learn from this far).
If money were no issue, how would you spend it? Pay off all debt for my immediate family, ensure we will all be taken care of as we age; I would donate to animal rescues and farm sanctuary and bribe whoever needed to be bribed to figure out how to get our global community out of the mess we seem to be stuck in currently.
What makes you happiest? I hate picking one of anything; too many things make me happy. But if I had to pick just one, being at home with my family and doing nothing important.
What is your favorite vacation spot? For leisure, anything that involves great hiking, but I have two parents who live in Florida. So I would have to pick that so we can see them!
What do you do with your free time? Read, run, and I love that hour at night when the baby is in bed and I get to eat ice cream, play Wordle, scroll mindlessly and watch Ted Lasso (or any other binge-worthy show).
What makes you angry? A lot of things but mostly a refusal for anyone to participate in communicating effectively or civil civic discourse. We largely seem to have lost the art of actual conversation.
What do you do to escape from reality? I love reading. Mostly fiction, but I love a good biography.
What or who is the greatest love of your life? Again, I hate to pick one. My husband is my partner in so many things, but he also gave me three really amazing little girls to co-parent. If I really had to pick one, my daughter, Violet. She’s so cool.
Which living person in Johnson County do you most admire? Suzanna Fortenberry. She is kind, genuine, honest and she makes Johnson County a better place. She has also introduced me to so many women who do the same.
What is your greatest extravagance? I don’t splurge a lot but if I do, it’s on running shoes or a custom dress made by Jamie Dampier. I love the dresses she has made!
What is the quality you like best in a person? Kindness
What are your fears/phobias? My greatest fear is the demise of humanity due to our own consumption and greed. I also really don’t care for spiders.
Which talent would you most like to possess? I would love to do a backflip. It has to be so fun.
What do you most value in your friends? Someone who doesn’t beat around the bush. If I did or said something that wasn’t what they think I should have, I want to know so I can try to rectify it.
Which historical figure do you most identify with? It’s hard to say. I identify with women who overcame more than I have; more sexism, more discrimination, etc. But if I had to pick one I could identify with, Susan B. Anthony.
What is your greatest regret? I don’t know if I truly have any big regrets, maybe several when I was a student at Ball State, but I think, generally, I regret any time I didn’t speak up for myself, for what was right, or didn’t do something out of fear. Probably most women in their forties would think something similar.
What principle do you live by? Don’t wait. Find a way to do it. Whatever it may be, if it changes your life and the world for the better, just make it happen.
What has been the happiest time of your life? Right now. I am very lucky to have been able to say that for most of my life.