• Check-In •

September 22nd was the Fall equinox and the official beginning of Fall. Happy fall everyone! In Chinese Medicine the Fall is the lung time and the emotion is grief. I think it’s fitting that grief should be the emotion for Autumn. The leaves begin to change and fall. We pivot towards the cooler months and grieve all the Spring and Summer growth that will be dying back soon.

For us here in Asheville, we will have another grieving this month as we come upon the 1 year anniversary of Helene. For many people this has been a year of intense grief. Some lost more than others and we have all suffered in our own way. I continue to hear stories from my patients about the trauma they are still recovering from. This town and most of our lives here were forever changed from that event.

One of the main Helene sentiments I have heard from my patients is that they feel both great grief and great gratitude. I know I can relate to that.

For this month’s newsletter, I’d like to focus on what we are grateful for here at the clinic.

• Gratitude •

Aimée

I am most grateful to the French Broad River. This summer, I spent many Saturdays rafting down the French Broad. Due to Helene’s damage, it is currently one of the only rivers accessible nearby for rafting. Going down it, I got to see things from an on-the-river perspective. I saw piles of debris one after another lining the French broad, damaged banks, giant storage tanks lodged on the shores, snarls of severed power lines coming down into the water, countless huge piles of splintered pvc pipes, and much more evidence of Asheville life destroyed and washed away only to lay lodged on the banks of the French Broad. The river is very much still a mess. Even in its current state, it is also still so beautiful. Being on the river I have been reminded of why I fell in love with this area when I first settled here in 2008. Along with the debris, I have seen piles from the clean-up crews as they continue to work to restore our home. We are recovering. Slowly but surely.

Another thing that I am grateful for is that this September I celebrate 20 years of being in practice as an Acupuncturist. I honestly can hardly believe it. Thank you all for being a part of what has been my life’s work and a dream come true.

Jennifer

This year as I reflect back on our WNC community post-Helene, I am most grateful for the strength and resilience we have shown as a community. I’m grateful to see small businesses thriving, and new ones popping up. I’m grateful to see us all extending kindness and support to one another. Lastly, I’m grateful to have the privilege to contribute to the overall health and well-being of our community through my services at People’s.

Tara

The representative emotion of Summer is joy. As we transition from the peak Yang of summer to the rising Yin of autumn; I like to reflect on what brings me joy and gratitude. This summer kicked off with a couple of milestones. My godson graduated high school in May. In June my grandmother turned 100 years old!!! It was heartwarming to be a part of both momentous occasions.

In July I celebrated my second anniversary at People’s Acupuncture. It’s been said, do what you love, and you never work a day in your life. I couldn’t agree more with that statement. I have so much to be thankful for working here: The sense of community that patients bring when they walk in the door and three intelligent and amazing women that I get to work with Aimée, Jennifer, and Leah.

Leah

Helene was the second major climate disaster I have been through. I witnessed people standing up for one another and being incredibly generous during the first disaster too. The 2013 Colorado floods were also very unexpected and I was stranded in a small mountain town for three days without any services. We all had neighborhood BBQs, shared whatever we had, and kept one another safe- just like we did here in WNC.

Helene reaffirmed my belief that in climate disasters, people come together to support one another and often come into their best selves. I watched the majority of people help their neighbors and share their resources willingly. Strangers I met shared safe drinking water with me despite barely having enough for themselves. I helped elderly neighbors access food and water from my rain barrel. We have all heard the stories about rescue workers putting their lives on the line to save others. The media likes to sell fear – so many apocalypse movies show people becoming selfish, animalistic monsters but we here in WNC know that’s not the case. I’m so grateful to have lived in such wonderful communities that helped restore my faith in humanity.

• News & Anniversary •

There is one more thing I want to let everyone know. We are adding a new practitioner to our team. Welcome Courtney Kelly! Courtney is a delightful and seasoned Acupuncturist who will be on shift two days per week starting mid October.

The clinic has survived the pandemic and the perfect storm Helene brought. Through all that we have worked to make the clinic stronger with every rebuild. Thanks to you all, the clinic is more stable than ever and has mounted a full recovery. To many more years together.

Asheville Strong

Love,
Aimée and the Peoples Acupuncture of Asheville