My desire to spend as much time in the woods as possible lead me to complete a through-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2013. It was an amazing experience. Though upon returning to Knoxville, I couldn't help but feel like something was missing. That something, I came to realize, was the peaceful environment of the mountains. To watch the wildflowers bloom out of the kitchen window and feel the cool mountain breeze against my skin has been a welcome change from life in the city.
It fills me with joy to be watching the seasons change up here. As the snow thawed and the squirrels came out in full force to rejoice in the coming of Spring, I sat cozy in my cabin sipping on my daily cup of tea, content with listening to their playful chattering. Now the coneflower and bee balm are in full bloom and the warm sunshine makes their colors even more radiant. I look forward to the dazzling fall colors and the time when the firs will droop under the weight of fresh snow again, but most importantly I am so thankful to be living in this present moment. I feel so blessed to live a life working on this mountain.