Now, you might be wondering what in the world Asheville, North Carolina and maybe even Art have to do with Health & Wellness. Well, think again.
Western North Carolina is breathtakingly beautiful. The air is clean; the food is spectacular and the art and music communities are bustling.
Asheville is the largest city in western North Carolina. It was founded in 1784 and prospered until the Depression. The city and its amazing Art Deco architecture remained virtually unchanged from 1930-1980.
When most people think of Asheville NC, they think of another era and the Biltmore Estate and it’s opulence and materialism and, yes, beauty built by a single visionary named George Washington Vanderbilt II.
But the Asheville of 2013 is a town full of many creative visionaries.
“A visionary sees what is and sees through what is to what could be”
Eric Weiner in his 2008 The Geography of Bliss wrote, “it is big enough to have a thriving art scene and choice of restaurants, yet not so big it is burdened with big city problems.” Some think it’s the happiest city in the U.S.
It has a Sustainability Master Plan with a focus on a “green” economy and becoming self sufficient food wise. There are dozens of farm markets and “farm to table” restaurants. They even have a “Five Day Weekend Movement” (less stress, more fun) and support the Strive Not to Drive movement. Add 4,000 artisans and craftsmen, many of whom are multigenerational, and the River Arts District along the French Broad River. Add gorgeous natural surroundings and a relatively mild climate (think not too hot, not too cold, just right, as well as little snow though very close to a number of ski resorts).
Someone described it as a city of southern civility & spiritual tolerance; to some that may sound like an oxymoron, but it really is a happy and peaceful place.
The takeaway message here, even if you can’t live in Asheville, NC, is that we can all find ways to soothe our souls, to manage our stress and live a happier life by surrounding ourselves with beauty, good food , creativity and art.
Leave a Reply