I have never been more desperate and grateful for the arrival of spring.
 
Winter was long and unkind. Hurricane Helene dealt our beloved Blue Ridge Mountain communities a heavy-handed blow on Sept. 27, 2024. She washed away our autumn season of abundance, just as she stripped the colorful foliage from the trees and blew them over, toppling them like rows of dominoes. She left us bare and vulnerable right before the cold settled in.
 
People often ask, “Are things getting back to normal?”
 
We reply, “Things will never be the same.”
 
For those of us who know these mountains intimately, we mourn the way it was. We knew each and every bend in the river, whose banks are now unrecognizable, eroded and littered with storm debris. That boulder in the creek that always held colorful brook trout behind it… gone. Where did it go? New boulders, even bigger, are scattered about, remnants of the mountain above. And, oh, how I loved to sit between the roots of that 100+year-old white oak. It felt like it was hugging me back. Now, a fallen giant, brown and splintered in my backyard, a constant reminder every time I look out my kitchen window.
 
Just when I thought the dreariness might swallow me whole, the daffodils rose up, unfurled their petals, and turned their faces towards the sun. The forsythia blooms popped open like a million starry eyes opening up to see the world for the very first time. And the trout lilies sprang forth from the forest floor, just as they always do.

This year, spring hits different. If hope were a color, it would be yellow. Bright and vibrant amongst the waning winter brown and gray. A harbinger of the lush green landscape to come. The light has finally caught up to the dark - and now the light is winning.
 
If you are struggling in the wake of the storm, go outside, I beg of you. There’s a beautiful, wild world out there, pining for your attention. Deserving of your devotion. Ready and waiting to hold space and heal. Breathe in deeply the fresh mountain air. Splash the cold creek water onto your face and begin again. Dig your hands into the earth and plant seeds.
 
I never doubted Mother Nature’s resiliency, and I don’t doubt ours. I know we will rise up, just as these daffodils found their way through the debris. It’s been a long, cold, dark winter. Let’s turn towards the light.
 
About the Author
Kelly Bruce is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide/Trail Consultant and the founder of Natural Wanders. She leads forest bathing and nature therapy walks in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina, and the greater Asheville area. She leads monthly community forest bathing retreats, as well as private experiences. For more inspiration, follow along on Instagram and Facebook.

Ladies looking for community, nature connection and enhanced wellbeing are invited to join We Hike to Heal for a free mindful hike on Conserving Carolina trails throughout western North Carolina.
 
We Hike to Heal is a 501(c)3 nonprofit with a mission of building an inclusive community that normalizes self-care, creates a sacred space for healing and adventure, and prioritizes the mental and emotional wellbeing of all women. Through guided outdoor activities, We Hike to Heal offers participants a unique and powerful way to experience respite, connection and community. The Atlanta-based organization is growing, with ambassadors throughout the United States and Canada.
 
Local forest bathing and nature therapy guide, Kelly Bruce, owner and lead guide at Natural Wanders, was recently appointed as the North Carolina ambassador for We Hike to Heal. She hosted the very first We Hike to Heal event in the Carolinas on Feb. 22 at Bell Park in Saluda.
 
“Helping people connect more deeply to nature, community and themselves is something I’m passionate about both personally and professionally, so I jumped at the opportunity to partner with We Hike to Heal,” Kelly says. “I’ve met so many wonderful women through this organization and I’m excited to help grow this community in western North Carolina. These events provide a safe space for anyone who identifies as female to come together and experience the healing power of nature. The consensus of the ladies joining our hikes is that we need this now more than ever.”
 
A resident of Hendersonville and an experienced hiking guide, Kelly is certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy, and Wilderness First Aid through the American Red Cross. She also leads forest bathing retreats at Conserving Carolina’s Transfiguration Preserve in Bat Cave and Terra Nova in Cedar Mountain, North Carolina.
 
Kelly is hosting a series of mindful hikes this year on Conserving Carolina land and trails. They will progress from beginner (short hikes with little elevation change), to more moderate and advanced trails this summer and fall. Hike one, or all! The next We Hike to Heal women’s group hike takes place at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 29 at Wintergreen Falls in DuPont State Forest, Hendersonville. The hikes are free but advance registration is required. Visit Eventbrite to RSVP.
 
To stay informed of upcoming hikes in the Carolinas and southeastern U.S., join the We Hike to Heal South Facebook group. Be sure to follow Natural Wanders on Facebook and Instagram for updates, too.

In addition to hikes throughout the U.S. and Canada, We Hike to Heal is hosting their annual campout and retreat June 20-22 in White, Georgia. The event offers women an opportunity to unwind, connect with nature, and build lasting bonds with like-minded women. Learn more at WeHiketoHeal.org.

About the Author
Kelly Bruce is a Certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide/Trail Consultant and the founder of Natural Wanders. She leads forest bathing and nature therapy walks in the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountains of Western North Carolina in the greater Asheville area. She leads monthly community forest bathing retreats, as well as private experiences. For more inspiration, follow along on Instagram and Facebook.