Learning How to Meander

By Theresa Anthony, author of In Search of Gopher Hollow

When I sat down to write my third memoir, In Search of Gopher Hollow, I had just moved across the country to a small town in Tennessee. Even though I’d barely been here six months, I knew right away that this quaint little town was a perfect fit for me and couldn't wait to write about it. Indeed, I had found my new Gopher Hollow, my childhood happy place.

Gopher Hollow was the name of my grandparents’ home where, as a young girl, I'd stayed during a very tumultuous period in my family's life. The peace I found there, surrounded by love and light and stability, became so ingrained in my psyche that I've subconsciously sought to recreate that same soul-soothing environment ever since. I didn’t realize I was on a lifelong quest, but deep down inside has been a constant yearning to feel safe and secure again, just like I'd felt there with my grandparents.

Instead, the next chapters of my life were punctuated with turmoil and tragedy, only deepening the sharp contrast between the type of setting I desired and the reality in which I lived.  

Fortunately, the loving hand of God sprinkled many blessings over me as a counterbalance to the harsh journey I was on. Three beautiful children, lifelong friendships, and eventually grandchildren provided me with more than enough love in my life. Still, my soul felt perpetually unsettled and scarred from all that I had been through.

You see, in October of 2013, my beloved son, after a six-year battle with depression and alcoholism, made the decision to take his life. Nine months later, the man of my dreams, my rock, lost his life to leukemia. So there I was, utterly alone for the first time in my life.

After limping along for a few years, it was time for a change. A big change. The fast-paced, hectic life I led in California was all wrong for me, but I didn’t know exactly why. After all, it was pretty much all I’d ever known. But my bruised and battered heart was searching for the peaceful serenity that Gopher Hollow had provided all those many years ago. A place where you can sit in utter stillness, close your eyes, and breathe to the gentle rhythm of nature.

As fate would have it, my daughter and her family decided to move to Tennessee. They, too, craved a simpler, slower life where they could raise their family in a home they'd call their own. Soon after they moved away, I visited them and immediately fell in love with the little town where they’d settled. I stood there in the town square, soaking up the nostalgic vibe, the historic buildings, and the quiet meandering of the people around us. This! I want this!

After making the move, I admit it took me a bit to adjust to the leisurely tempo. It was almost like I needed to be deprogrammed and rebooted into a more chill version of myself. In time, instead of feeling rushed and hurried and anxious all the time, I gradually learned how to downshift to a slower speed. I learned how to meander.

Now, when I take little scenic drives in the countryside (with my hound dog), I marvel at my newfound ability to lolly-gag. When I happen to find myself behind a slow-moving truck, I don’t let my blood pressure rise in frustration anymore. Nope. Instead, I take the opportunity to soak in the abundant beauty that surrounds me as I poke along.

As I cruise along at 40mph, I actually notice the dainty wildflowers that dot the landscape, the weathered old barn on its last legs, and the livestock that graze languidly in the meadows. For the full effect, I’ll roll down the windows, allowing my hair to whip across my face and Morgan’s long ears twirling in the wind behind me.

This California gal has gladly said goodbye to decades of fast-paced life for the simple sweetness of sauntering. I have found exactly what my sad heart needed, a safe and peaceful place to refresh and rebrand. My new Gopher Hollow.

---

Please tap the HEART button below! 

I hope you'll read my story. I promise an emotional and inspiring ride!