About Our Ears Are Open

Our Ears Are Open was founded in Florida during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental health for some deteriorated due to a lack of human interaction. During this time, my mother lay in a rehab facility, and every visit, her roommate would just be lying there, sad, and loneliness dripped over her face.

I'm a nosey individual. I stopped by the desk and asked if my mother's roommate ever had any family come by, and the answer tugged at me all day. “Unfortunately, no. I think the only time she ever had someone come by is when she first got here, and she's been here for almost seven months,” the nurse told me.

Next time, I made it my mission not only to chat it up with my mother but also with her roommate. Eventually, my mother left the facility, and I made a promise to her roommate that I would come visit her as often as I possibly could. I kept my promise.

My mother passed away in the year 2021, and so did her roommate. My diary is gone.

Eventually, my job led me directly into the 65-and-older community, and I felt a sense of responsibility. So many of them wanted what I was selling but just couldn't afford it. Some of them just want a visitor. A phone call. A routine of human interaction. I knew what I was doing didn't feel right as a career, so I made the decision to walk away and just started small. It started with a few stops at local rehab and elderly care facilities in my spare time. Then it became phone calls of just listening. Before I knew it, I was conversing with all kinds of people, even the staff of some of the facilities.

The nurses need an ear to vent, too. It can become a challenge for them; it can become overwhelming and exhausting. If I could find a way to assist those who need a little extra income while providing a listening ear, I could make a small dent in both issues. That is why I created “Our Ears Are Open”.

A place where I could hire the elderly, veterans, single parents, college students, and those who need a second chance, while providing a listening ear to the community. Whether it be through a scheduled phone call or a spontaneous chat.

I want to deliver true listening and genuine care in today's chaotic world. So many people struggle in silence out of fear of burdening others. You are not a burden. Talking with someone who has been through a storm and is still standing is important because it helps you hear how they did it. Not every piece of advice will work best for you but hearing someone's story or having someone listen to yours can change your perspective.

Our goal is to give people a chance to speak freely and have someone at the other end who listens and supports them. No matter what religion, race, political affiliation, or sexual orientation, you deserve to be heard.

In some cases, we will recommend that you seek therapy and provide other resources that might help you beyond a phone conversation. Every one of our team members is trained to recognize signs and symptoms of someone who may need more than just a conversation or a chat.

When you leave a conversation with one of our team members, the goal should always be to leave you in a better place than you were before. Sometimes we will get it wrong. We will get it right a lot of times. We want to make sure that you're walking in this world with your head held high and your spirit singing loudly.

My mother was my diary for 38 years; let me be yours for 38 more.

Mrs. Lovely