The world has felt heavy lately… more than usual. I’ve felt pretty helpless. Thinking to myself, “What’s the use?” It takes so much energy to deflect all the hate and negativity happening around us, it’s easy to feel apathetic and give up. 

I met Amber Kleid at a yoga retreat at Lake Junaluska a few years ago hosted by Waynesville Yoga Center. As she shared her knowledge with us, I instantly knew there was so much to learn from this incredible woman. I related to her on many levels - overcoming trauma, codependency, food addiction, burnout, chronic pain, etc. 

Today, Sept. 22, marks the Fall Equinox, one of two days during the year when the day and the night are equal in length. 

I did hard things last weekend.I put myself in an unfamiliar and uncomfortable situation with no idea of what to expect or how I’d fare so far outside my comfort zone. 

For me, the Labor Day holiday usually includes being with friends and family, barbecuing, consuming too many hard seltzers, playing in the water and lots of talking, but this year I will be in a tent, on the mountaintop, at a meditation retreat all weekend. 

Going into my second weekend of yoga teacher training, I had just completed my first week on the new job. By Friday, it had already felt like the longest week of my life after absorbing so much new information and trying to wrap my head around my new role and responsibilities.

I can’t tell you how many goodbye columns I’ve read over the years from reporters leaving their posts, lamenting over the ills of the industry and trying to piece together words that can accurately explain the bittersweet feeling of walking away from their career in journalism. 

A Macon County firefighter was flown to the Augusta Burn Center in Georgia with severe injuries last week after flames overran his position on a fire control line. 

There’s some major misinformation about women being hard to please when it comes to Valentine’s Day. The truth is if you don’t know what to get the special woman in your life, you’re probably overthinking it.

“In this Lovers year, you need to find a way to be romanced by your own life,” — Sara Faith Gottesdiener

Each year has a correlating tarot card intended to guide us on our journey — The Lovers is our corresponding card for 2022. 

Lying on my back in shavasana (corpse pose) during my first night of Yoga Teacher Training at Waynesville Yoga Center, the instructor asked us to think of an image and set an intention for this new journey. 

Development for Swain County often looks much different than other counties, mostly because Swain has such a limited amount of land available for development. 

Despite the pandemic, the town of Franklin has seen an influx of new retailers in the last year. 

Haywood County Health and Human Services is partnering with Optum Serve and Lake Junaluska Assembly to offer free COVID-19 diagnostic testing to Haywood County residents.

Those who’ve been following my progress for the last several years know I’ve been prioritizing my health more than I have ever have before. 

Between Dec. 26 and Dec. 30, my younger sibling and brother-in-law played tour guides to me and my mom in New York City. NYC is always busy, but it is a whole other kind of crazy during the holiday season and even more so during a global pandemic. What were we thinking? 

Taxpayers who own property straddling the Macon-Jackson County line may notice changes to their ad valorem tax bills next year. 

Swain County Detention Center became a place of reunions and redemption during the last few weeks as inmates had their first chance in over two years to see their family members face to face. 

Adam Kimsey will join the Franklin Town Council after the board unanimously appointed him to fill a two-year unexpired term. 

You may already feel like we’ve entered the winter months, but officially next Tuesday’s winter solstice marks the beginning of winter with the shortest day of the year. 

The history of the Nikwasi Mound in Franklin will soon be part of a Smithsonian Museum traveling exhibit that will tour around the U.S.

Swain County Board of Commissioners voted to spend its American Rescue Plan allocation on pay for employees since a guideline regarding “qualified census tracts” limits the county’s ability to put the money toward infrastructure projects. 

Franklin Town Council has agreed on how to spend $73,000 of the town’s $1.3 million allocation from the American Rescue Plan. 

Macon County decided early on to invest all of its American Rescue Plan allocation toward county employees. 

Haywood County commissioners haven’t made any decisions regarding how they plan to allocate the $12 million coming from the American Rescue Plan Act. 

Self nourishment was the theme of the last women’s full moon circle I hosted. The theme had less to do with the full moon cycle and more to do with the fact that this word — self nourishment — kept being presented to me in the days before the circle. Through online articles, podcasts and newsletters I enjoy reading. 

The holiday shopping season tends to be a stressful time for shoppers as well as retailers with large crowds, long lines, mounting tension and explosive tempers as everyone is in a rush to get everything on their list. 

Former Western North Carolina law enforcement officer Eric Giles is suing District Attorney Ashley Welch and Assistant DA John Hindsman Jr. for issuing him a Giglio Order in 2018. 

Black Friday!  Shop Local Saturday! (Sleep on Sunday) Cyber Monday! Giving Tuesday! Are we all ready for a full week of shopping, people? That’s what our post-Thanksgiving week seems to be about as soon as we fill up on turkey and pie.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed an official budget last week that includes $850,000 for critical infrastructure projects in Swain County. 

Almost immediately after Rep. Madison Cawthorn announced on Nov. 11 that he’d seek an open seat in the new 13th Congressional District, speculation started to swirl around the intentions of NCGOP 14th District Chair Michele Woodhouse. 

There are only six weeks left in 2021. Let that sink in for a moment. How does it make you feel? Anxious? Excited? Relieved? Panicked? Maybe a little of everything.

Carolyn Moncada started Fancy Flour Baking Company out of her home in Maggie Valley about two years ago making special occasion cakes. Today, she takes orders for cookies, cupcakes, and muffins in addition to her delicious cakes. She has counter space at Sippers in the Valley Coffee Shop, but you better order in advance because this baker stays busy!

Only 10% of Bryson City residents cast a ballot in this year’s municipal election, which is not unusual for the small town. 

The Town of Franklin elected one incumbent and two newcomers to the town council board during the Nov. 2 municipal election. 

I’m hard on myself. I never think I do enough. I think I don’t work hard enough. I think I’m not where I should be at this point in my life. I think I should weigh a certain number and criticize myself when I’m above it. I should eat better. I should exercise more. I should drink more water and less wine. My brain replays every little mistake I make over and over again.

After spending the last several years discussing the need for an updated pay scale, Macon County commissioners recently approved spending close to $9 million over the next three years to increase county employee pay. 

A new nonprofit expanding its services into Haywood County is challenging the status quo when it comes to overcoming addiction. 

When you portray strong and influential women onstage for more than 30 years, chances are some of that strength and influence will rub off on you.

A group of homeowners calling themselves the “Save Highlands Committee” has filed a legal complaint against the Town of Highlands for its decision to enforce a ban of short-term rentals within the R-1 residential area. 

There are plenty of ways to celebrate the autumn season around Appalachia in October. Here are some fall festival suggestions for the next couple of weeks. 

When you’re new to town, it seems like everyone invites you to join their group whether it’s a church, civic group, nonprofit, board, or other volunteer position. I’d never really been a joiner before I moved to Waynesville in 2013, but it didn’t take me long to find my people when I saw the Women of Waynesville naked calendar for the first time. I just loved the idea of women of all ages coming together and volunteering to shed their clothes to raise money for a common cause. How empowering!

The Town of Franklin is moving forward with plans to hire a code enforcement officer after adding the new position to this year’s budget. 

The tone of this year’s Franklin Town Council election is much different than it was four years ago, making for a quieter and more cooperative campaign season for the community. 

The best gift my mother ever gave me was a love of reading. From the time I can remember, I always had books surrounding me and for that I am forever grateful. 

In honor of National Literacy Month, Rumble asked its readers for book recommendations. Here are the books that have changed the lives of women today. 

Dogwood Health Trust had lofty goals when it was formed in 2019 with the mission to dramatically improve the health and wellbeing of people throughout Western North Carolina. 

Coming out of the full moon in Pisces, which was intense with emotions, everyone is rejoicing in the first days of the fall season. The temperature is cooler, the leaves are already changing and falling, and all the pumpkin spice products are hitting the shelves. While all this is fine and good, and I don’t mean to burst anyone’s happiness bubble, but Mercury moves back into retrograde Sept. 27 and stays there until Oct. 17.

If you need help moving, getting organized or downsizing, you’ll want to call Tatia Childers with Girl Friday Agency to help you through the process. And now Tatia has opened a consignment shop in Waynesville with all the amazing items she helps sell for her clients. The shop is located at 85 Muse Business Park just behind Balsam Antique Mall along U.S. 74 and offers some amazing items (and several cute kitties to pet while you shop).