In our day-to-day lives, we are surrounded by chaos, such as stress from work, financial worries, taking care of household chores, raising children (which I don’t know about at the moment, but from what I’ve been told, it seems to be extraordinarily beautiful yet chaotic.)

All of us have something weighing down on our shoulders, causing anxiety, depression and other mental suffering. Regardless of what is causing this heaviness on the soul, everyone has to handle the pressures of the world.

We work out, eat healthy, take vitamins and try to focus on all physical aspects of our health as we’ve been told to do. 

However, one part of our physical and mental well-being that is often forgotten is the health of our spirit, the soul inside of our flesh making us who we are. The part of us that make us unique, beautiful, caring, loving, kind, joyful and all of the other attributes which make up our personalities.

At times, we worry about everyone and everything else other than what we need emotionally and spiritually.

Life can take a toll on even the strongest of us. It’s our job to realize when we need help and to take a break to focus on the internal parts of ourselves.

There are many different ways to be good to your soul. Church or praying to a religious being is helpful to many. Meditation or yoga can cleanse the negativity from the spirit and bring about positive internal change. 

I love nature, music and traveling. It is a chance to get away from all of the noise in the world that dampens the brightness of the soul. These things are my spiritual medicine.

For the long Fourth of July weekend, a spontaneous trip was planned to stay in a tiny house in the middle of a forest 20 miles from artistic Asheville, N.C. The goal is to do something different and adventurous to reconnect with myself.

I hope to stop at each spot with a lovely view, ride with the windows down and feel the wind in my hair, sit in the sun under a canopy of trees, envelop my face with smiles and laughter, twirl and dance around a campfire, lie under the stars where no city lights are blocking out their glow and take a few days to feel the breath in my lungs and a feeling of freedom. 

Life goes by so fast. I was always told that, but the older I get, the more I realize it to be fact. I want to make memories filled with adventures and light-heartedness. 

I want to hear my own laughter more. I want to dance everywhere my feet will lead me. I want to experience the different music and different forms of wildlife throughout the country and around the world.

This is to keep my spirit full and healthy and fill my life with an inner contentment that always remains intact, never forgetting to take my spiritual medicine.

Standard reporter Atlanta Northcutt can be reached at 473-2191.