Getting back to the basics in the Swannanoa Valley
Charlotte Walters
Guest Columnist
Charlotte Walters
We locals need to come together. Both the native folks that have lived in this valley their entire lives and the “locals” who may have been raised elsewhere but have decided to put their roots down here.
You all who grew up in this wonderful community offer those of us who have moved here a great wealth of knowledge of the area. Due to this summer’s cancellations, this community is back to the basics. What we call “basic” in this area is a slice of heaven to others around the country. This valley has been a place of healing for many years.
We, as a country, need some healing right now.
I have been back in western North Carolina for the past 20 years. I was not born here, although I have siblings who are native. My family lived here in the early 80s. We called Black Mountain home. It was always a goal to move back after we left for a different state. Even during our time away we always made it a point to come back to the mountains for at least a couple weeks over the summer. What did we do? We went camping, we rode our bikes, we went to Dairy King and we hiked the Seven Sisters.
As I grew older my siblings and I would return, many times with kayaks strapped to the top of the car. These types of outdoor adventures and simple lifestyle of the mountains are what makes it special. I thought I would never take it for granted. However, after the first decade of being back, I got caught up in the day to day routine. Get up, go to work, go home and go to bed. I forgot to look at the mountains on my drive back home from Asheville. I forgot to make time to take my bike out after work. I had forgotten the wellness of mind and body these mountains bring.
When the mind rests, the body rests. When the mind is upset, the physical body can also be affected. Such is the peace of the mountains. It calms the mind. The pure air and water have brought healing to those who suffered physical ailments.
I cannot remember what woke me up again to where I lived. Perhaps it was a late afternoon drive back home watching the sunset dip below the mountains. However, I made it a point to start enjoying the place that I was blessed to call home. I now enjoy an outdoor activity most every day and I enjoy my neighbors in my community as different and diverse as we all are. And I am well in mind and body.
So, you locals out there — you know who you are — I challenge you to once again pick up one of these outdoor physical activities or choose a brand new one that you have never tried.
Now is the time that we have all slowed down in life. Now is the time to take a literal breath of fresh air and turn away from negativity and fear. Go unplug and take a walk. Head out for a sunset bike ride after work. Clear the mind and come back with a new vigor for life and our community and our country. It is the time to create a new pattern in your life.
For those of you who have lived here all your life, we would love for you to share with us your favorite childhood memories of these mountains. We promise to keep that secret swimming hole a secret. We would love for you to join us on that mountain bike ride headed down Kitsuma Mountain.
This Swannanoa Valley is the place to get well. It has been for a hundred years. Together, let’s show people how to do it.
Charlotte Walters is the owner of Mountain Wellness & Physical Therapy, a mobile and concierge therapy practice. Her passion is helping active adults overcome chronic pain to live their best life. Mountain Wellness & PT offers telephysical therapy services for social distancing. Charlotte can be reached at Charlotte.Walters@mountainwellnesspt.com. Follow her Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/charlotte.walters.509.