24 Mar What Happened When I Listened to My Soul

By Jennifer Vickery

During the pandemic, I realized that I had rarely left my house and began to lose touch with going out to places. I was ridden with anxiety and was fearful. I needed to do something to get help. We decided in December 2020 to go to a cabin in the mountains of north Georgia as a way to get out but not be around too many people. I brought my husband and two children and nearly immediately felt my soul was at peace when I got there. It was something about the mountains, how much land I could see, a different climate and the feeling of things being a little bit simpler.

Then in 2021, we returned to vacation on a couple of other occasions at different spots and continued to fall in love. We took a trip to see a waterfall (after seeing many and just loving the exploration of that) but found a house for sale as we were just half-jokingly browsing through a real estate app.

We visited the house and something ‘clicked.’ I loved it. I wanted to live there. I belonged.

But what? How could I leave the hometown that I grew up in and felt I had serious roots? Not to mention, I love the sunshine of Florida.

After much debate, I decided to follow my heart and soul and make an offer on the home. I didn’t think they’d accept, but then, they did.

I began to feel the real pressure of the situation and the dream of having a different life. A life where I could visit mountains, waterfalls, brooks, creeks, hiking trails and a sense of quiet regularly. I stressed about how my children would like it; how it would affect my overall family.

We decided to take a leap into the unknown and try something new.

I can tell you the different trees, climate, plants, wildlife and culture are all new and fresh. I actually see chipmunks, deer and even saw a skunk! My children are taking new adventures hiking and doing simple things like just walking about in the woods. We are exploring in a new and different way and having discussions about different things. The people are different. The food is different. The temperature is different.

I’m keeping my connection to my hometown and have a place to go whenever we want to go back and visit family for now; so there is a safety net. This move feels so big and new and my heart is singing.

I hope my story encourages those who might be feeling a bit couped up to try something new even if it takes you out of your comfort zone.

I was completely worried about everything with the move and yet things are just working out fine. We will always be supported by life.

For me, I had no idea that I longed so badly to be in nature, around trees, woods, wildlife, waterfalls and simplicity; but that’s exactly what I wanted. It’s funny how my soul spoke to me without me even asking. I wasn’t looking for a major change. I listened to my soul.

Go explore and find what your soul is looking for.