Susanna Shetley
Like everything in life, the holiday season is about perception. On one hand, you can view it as a commercialized frenzy or you can see it as a time to slow down and reflect, or maybe a little of both. I tend to fall in the combined category, but it hasn’t always been that way.
The passion surrounding the 2024 election was monumental, and as I observed my fellow Americans, the overarching emotion that simmered to the surface, no matter the party affiliation, was fear.
Have you noticed how stunning the fall colors are this year? A plethora of factors affect the autumn hues, making some years rather drab and others, like this one, pop with kaleidoscope vibrancy. Every day I’ve stood in awe at the splendor.
When you’re a columnist for a newspaper, you don’t take the space for granted. It is a gift and an honor to be given a page every other week to offer my thoughts and opinions on matters of the world or matters of the soul.
Around 7:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, Haley Ramey, co-owner of Soul Sisters Depot in Frog Level, began receiving calls from ADT that the store’s security alert system was sensing motion.
“I tried to look at the security videos on my phone but couldn’t see what was going on. I started breaking down knowing something really bad was happening,” said Haley. “I could just feel it.”
It’s hard to know what to write about when my mind is swirling in so many directions, as I’m sure most of yours are as well. As someone said, not only were the effects of Hurricane Helene on a mountain region improbable, they were unimaginable.
On a sunny morning, I met Robin Arramae at Panacea Coffee House in the Frog Level District of Waynesville. We sat on the back deck amid other coffee-goers and the relaxing sounds of a nearby creek. The goal was to conduct an interview about her popular business, WNC Paint Events.
Recently I had the privilege of sitting and talking with a group of adolescents who weren’t my own children or my friends’ children. These were teens who I knew well enough to where they felt comfortable with me, but not so well that I was privy to their ongoing emotional patterns or personal stressors.
Once Labor Day has come and gone, I lean fully into fall. I know that technically autumn does not officially begin until Sept. 22, but for my own personal joy, I’ve decided to initiate the season sooner.
During a recent morning drive to Asheville, I felt a yearning to listen to National Public Radio (NPR). Typically my phone automatically connects to Bluetooth and a random song from Spotify plays from the speakers.
Just when global news hit a fever pitch and there was little to hang onto in the way of goodness and humanity, the 2024 Paris Olympics began, which has offered many of us a much-needed reprieve and countless reminders of hope and triumph.
One of the greatest advantages of traveling the world is being reminded how similar we all are, regardless of culture, race, language or religion.
My last column was written just before I returned from Wilderness Trail. I’m not sure what propelled me to sign up for this adventure, other than I felt it was time to challenge myself.
When this column is published, I’ll be emerging from five days in the wilderness of Southwest Virginia. A group from First United Methodist Church of Waynesville will be participating in the Wilderness Trail experience from June 21-26.
I recently experienced a visual about worrying. It was a mountain where the highest point is the peak of worry.
Recently someone described me as a “longtime columnist for the Smoky Mountain News,” which made me realize I’ve been sharing personal stories, revelations and anecdotes with this audience for quite a while.
If you need a reminder of the sweet soul of humanity, visit your local farmers market on a Saturday morning.
I’ve become fascinated with studies and lifestyle changes focused on longevity and biohacking. A few recent “revolutionary health and wellness suggestions” made me realize our cave dwelling ancestors already had everything figured out.
It’s March Madness, and as a graduate of North Carolina State University, I am thoroughly enjoying it. We Wolfpack fans haven’t had much to celebrate in the way of basketball for a long time, so watching both the men’s and women’s teams progress to the NCAA Final Four has been quite the exciting experience.
Gratitude has become something of a buzz word and because of that, it seems that some people roll their eyes at the concept.
Many folks seem out of alignment these days, and I’ve been thinking about why that may be. The uncertainty and unpredictability of the pandemic affected us deeply and highlighted the fragility of not only our day-to-day routines and comforts but of life in general.
Many of us at The Smoky Mountain News have written novels, are in the process of writing a novel or plan to write one in the future, so novel writing is often a topic of conversation among the staff and we like to share resources.
When Amanda Byerly and her husband took their two-year-old daughter, Elin, to a routine eye doctor’s appointment, the last thing they expected to hear was that her child most likely had a genetic condition that could result in permanent blindness. After doing research, consulting with additional physicians and traveling to Duke to confirm the diagnosis, they discovered there actually is a cure, but it’s currently just out of reach for patients. Rumble sat down with Amanda to hear her captivating story.
Recently, I was asked to speak to a leadership class at Tuscola High School and although flattered, I wondered if I was the best candidate for this experience.
This past weekend, I served as a cabin leader for Winter Retreat, an annual youth event hosted by First United Methodist Church.
I love the energy surrounding a new year. Why are beginnings so enchanting? Perhaps it’s the hope and anticipation of the unknown or maybe an open opportunity to shed old habits, behaviors and beliefs that are no longer serving us.
It’s hard to believe Christmas is less than a week away. With more gifts to buy, a Christmas puzzle partially finished and cards yet to be mailed, I still have plenty to do, but I’m not letting the stress get to me.
Many years ago when I was an educator, my school was tasked with reading a book titled “The Cycle of Poverty” by Ruby Payne.
The holidays are a special and festive time of year, but they can also be stressful or heartbreaking for some. Maybe it’s the long list of activities and social engagements, or maybe it’s overspending or overeating, or perhaps it’s missing a loved one who's no longer here on earth. Whatever the reason, there are some important things to keep in mind so we stay grounded, relaxed and in a good mental space to enjoy this cherished season.
Many years ago when I was an educator we were tasked with reading a book called “The Cycle of Poverty” by Ruby Payne. It’s a fascinating read and highlights an array of topics in depth. There are three basic socio-economic classes (poverty, middle-class and wealth). It’s challenging to break out of any class without an external force. This is similar to Newton’s law → a body in motion stays in motion until acted upon by an external force. Poverty keeps rolling through generations until something significant comes along to stop it.
Over 10 years ago, I was part of a cohort at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church who read a book called “A Simple Act of Gratitude” by John Kralik.
I’ve been wondering lately how to slow down time. If you’re a parent, I’m sure you would agree there’s a positive correlation between children getting older and days moving faster.
Anyone who’s been fortunate enough to meet Sarah Miller, owner of Divas on Main in downtown Franklin, knows what a dynamic, intelligent and generous woman she is. If you’ve never met Sarah or visited her store, I suggest you add that to your agenda the next time you’re in Western North Carolina. As she said, visiting her store isn’t simply shopping, it’s an “experience” with drinks, hors d'oeuvres, a knowledgeable staff and beautiful packaging. Even if you don’t buy anything, you’ll enjoy your time at Divas on Main.
My last newspaper column talked of Thomas Aquinas’s four idols — money, power, pleasure and fame, and how they not only play a part in our everyday lives but also in wars and political unrest.
We always love talking with Beth Sanderson Hooper about health and wellness. Her experience and expertise are vast and her personality is infectious. After trying to manage body image issues by controlling and restricting her physical body, Beth learned that true healing only comes when we take an intentionally holistic approach as opposed to hyper-focusing on fitness and nutrition. As Beth says, “I understand now that working on ourselves only from the outside will never bring the peace we're all truly after.”
I never pretend to be an expert on current events. In fact, I mostly avoid the news because so much of it is doom and gloom or the same old political rhetoric.
Over the summer, we visited a friend’s lake house in Georgia. There were 17 of us in the group, and while there we played pickleball.
Laura Messer and I have been friends since elementary school. Some of our fondest memories of those years are being on an Odyssey of the Mind (OM) team together where we were given the gift of space and time to be creative. Recently when Laura and I chatted, we talked of a time when we did an OM project about Pompeii and how we traveled to West Asheville with our teacher to cut a significant amount of colored glass so we could make a massive mosaic of an erupting Mount Vesuvius. It’s interesting how those types of hands-on, experiential activities stick with us so much more than sitting in classrooms doing worksheets or listening to lectures. If you’re a teacher reading this, I think there’s a lesson in that.
I’ve never doubted I’m an old soul, so maybe my attachment to herbal remedies and plant-based eating is connected to another lifetime when nature and humans functioned more synergistically.
It was a beautiful sunny morning when I felt the urge to make the 45-minute drive to my hometown of Weaverville.
Sisters-in-law Chelsea Ramsey and Haley Ramey are two creative spirits who had a dream to open a storefront, after several years of operating pop-up markets. They wanted a place where they could sell their own items as well as fashion, accessories, home goods and products from other local artists. Originally located in Clyde, Soul Sisters Depot moved to 240 Depot Street in the Historic Frog Level District of Waynesville in April of 2022. Rumble recently sat down with co-owner Chelsea to learn more about the origin and evolution of this popular store.
It’s been almost 20 years since I first stumbled into Frog Level, the area of downtown Waynesville located along Richland Creek. At the time, I was an intern at Waynesville Middle School but living in downtown Asheville. A friend and I ventured over to Haywood County one Saturday so I could show off its scenic beauty. After a morning of hiking, we found ourselves at Panacea Coffee Company. This would become the first of many work sessions, coffee dates, and other meet-ups at this beloved coffee shop. It’s even the location of our annual Smoky Mountain News Christmas party.
A lot has changed through the decades, but the excitement surrounding a back-to-school season remains.
This summer I’ve been learning several important life lessons.
Candra Smith has spent most of her life curious about or working in the healing arts. She is currently the owner of Maggie Valley Wellness. In the coming months, they will be rebranding as Sundarah Wellness. They will have two locations — their original location at 461 Moody Farm Road in Maggie Valley and a second location in Waynesville as a collaborative effort with Waynesville Yoga Center. Rumble recently sat down with Candra to learn more about her history in the healing arts, what it’s like balancing family, work and self, and what’s to come in the future.
A couple weeks ago The Smoky Mountain News hosted its anniversary party.
Jennifer Winney has lived in Upstate South Carolina her entire life. Growing up, she was exposed to real estate through her family’s ownership of a number of properties. Building upon these early experiences, she is now a successful real estate agent at Coldwell Banker Caine in Greenville. She loves getting to know her clients and helping individuals and families find a place they can call home. Aside from her professional endeavors, Jennifer is passionate about spending time with her family, working out and raising awareness about endometriosis. With endometriosis being something that impacted Jennifer's life and the lives of many other women, Rumble sat down with Jennifer to learn more about this complicated condition.
Lately we’ve been enjoying the hummingbirds each morning on our back deck.
Currently three of the four kids in our house are out in the woods participating in an experience called Wilderness Trail. They are completely off the grid for five days. That leaves my 11-year-old at home for the week by himself. I batted around the idea of going on a trip with just him, but instead, decided to stay in town and enjoy a few local and regional attractions.
Recently I stumbled upon one of my columns from 2017. I talked of an evening where I sat with my then 5-year-old little boy and read “Harold and the Purple Crayon” by Crockett Johnson.
