(The roaring waters at Cumberland Falls State Park in
Kentucky)
In order to be the best version of yourself for the
people in your life, sometimes you need to refresh and step away from the everyday
routine. That might look like practicing five minutes of mindfulness
meditation. It might be a weekend away, spending time with God and nature. It
might even mean splurging on a reasonable shopping spree to buy something nice
for yourself.
My wife, Lisa, and I saw Noah Kahan perform at The
Signal in Chattanooga, Tennessee this past weekend. Kahan represents a folk-pop
voice that boasts of a New England upbringing and mental health struggles. His
music presents real-life scenarios with an authentic voice of pure honesty. Kahan
is certainly not afraid to write about personal turmoil in his crafted lyrics.
Almost every show on his current tour has now sold out! I felt privileged that
I was able to attend his concert when the supply of tickets seemed limited.
We also spent time with my lifelong friend, Jason
Coffey. Jason, his wife, and some hired babysitters were willing to watch our
kids on this date night out. We hung out Saturday, eating good food, watching
movies, and reminiscing about family memories shared with the Coffey’s. I definitely
have many evident lifelong blessed relationships, including my friendship with Jason.
On another recent outing a couple of weeks back, I
took a whole day to drive to Corbin, Kentucky. I enjoyed the small Appalachian
town, Corbin’s version of Main Street, and Cumberland Falls State Park, where I
hiked several miles. Cumberland Falls is considered the “Niagara Falls of the
South.” It is one of the few locations in the eastern United States where you
can actively view a moonbow, a rainbow where light from the moon becomes
refracted through water droplets in the air. I would enjoy seeing such a
majestic natural phenomenon! This occurrence happens several times yearly with
a calendar on the Tennessee State Parks website.
The waterfalls roared with a blissful mist! I took a
few minutes to pause and pray in the moment's beauty. I needed some fresh mountain
air on this specific day to get away and breathe. Please see the pictures of this
fascinating place below.
Corbin is home to the famed Colonel Sanders, who
started Kentucky Fried Chicken. In fact, you can eat at the original KFC
restaurant in town. Corbin also has a pottery painting studio and a pinball
machine museum. After a long hike at Cumberland Falls, I ate at The Wrigley
Taproom and Brewery, where I ordered the Harvest Buddha Bowl. This dish
consists of grilled chicken breast, charred carrots, red cabbage, pickled cauliflower,
crunchy quinoa, cranberries, rice, and maple miso dressing. The meal was a delectable delight to my taste buds. I drank one local microbrew
with my fresh farm meal. There were some quaint stores on Main Street Corbin, a
coffee shop, and a few other one-of-a-kind dining establishments. It was a
jewel of a town on the outskirts of the Cumberland Plateau, where nature meets
the Daniel Boone National Forest.
Williamsburg, Kentucky, home of the University of the
Cumberlands, is directly south of Corbin. On the way to Knoxville, I stopped on
this town’s Main Street to visit the Moonbow Mercantile, where I treated myself
to homemade ice cream. I also visited The Suds Barn and Boutique, a shop
specializing in individualized crafts, jewelry, and bath essentials (soaps,
bath bombs, lotion, etc.). I spoke personally with the owner, Rebecca Lunsford,
for a good while. She answered many more questions I had about the region and
other undiscovered treasures. I bought a few items to take home, including a
butter lotion that has helped Jace with some recent mild eczema. Rebecca makes
all these home remedies and highly recommended the cream for Jace.
Regarding these recent events, you have to take care
of yourself, and this revelation involves doing things for yourself. Now, some
people are not going to like the progressive steps you take to enjoy your days
and practice methods of mental health self-care. You are having fun when they
might not be. You feel that you should be working or doing something
productive. At least, these self-thoughts sometimes plague my mind. While I
rarely feel guilty taking a little time for myself, sometimes I need to pause
more, put down the work, and remain present. Again, this mentality takes many
various forms. This breather might be going out to eat alone. You might seek to
take a hike near a beautiful waterfall. It might be spending time with your spouse
and/or children.
It is vital to stop and enjoy yourself. To care for
your own family, you must care for yourself. That means not feeling guilty when
you do so. That means taking action without remorse and without caring what
others might think.
God cares for you, and He desires for you to enjoy
life. He wants you to accomplish great things but also that you take time to
recognize those great moments.
One of these immense moments for me was standing at
the edge of some of the grandest waterfall cascades in the southeast. I will
remember that prayerful moment at the edge of that canyon river for many years
to come. For further long-term appreciation, I will remember Cumberland Falls.
I will remember my date night at Noah Kahan. I will remember the vested time
spent with my dear friends like the Coffey’s.
These are the moments I seek to cherish. These are the
memories I remain grateful for in the experiences they bring. Now, learn to
take your own breather and enjoy your life today as it is at this moment!
(Noah Kahan entertains the crowd in concert at The
Signal in Chattanooga, Tennessee.)
#daddydestinations #daddy #dad #blog #family
#DaddiesAndDaughters #destinations #memories #story #narrative #inspiration
#JamesCartee #breathe #rest #timeforyou #lifelessons #NewYears #resolution
#resolve
No comments:
Post a Comment