Holistic Wellness Nurse

Returning to Our Roots in the Earth Element

This January, I embarked on a journey to Cascade Valley Metro Park, a beautiful part of Summit Metro Parks in Ohio. But what started as a simple hike became something much deeper—a moment of reflection, reconnection, and a powerful reminder of what truly grounds me.

In preparing for this pilgrimage, I delved into the history of Summit County and learned something remarkable: Akron was among the first cities in the U.S. to allow anyone—including Black families—to purchase land before the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Even before laws were rewritten, there were people who chose to do what was right. One such example is Wheelock Cuyahoga Acres, which became one of the first integrated communities in 1948.

This history brought clarity to a truth I have always known: doing what is right should never be dependent on what is written on paper. People have always had the power to live with integrity, with or without the government’s stamp of approval.

And yet, as I stood on this sacred ground, feeling the earth beneath me, I couldn’t ignore the noise of the world around me. Fear has gripped the nation. Division is being fed to us through every screen, every headline, every speech.

But I refuse to buy into it.

What Are You Rooted In?

Walking this trail made me ask myself an important question: What am I grounded in? And is it helping me thrive in being my best self?

With the year ahead, we will be tested. We may be forced to move, to adapt, to stand firm in the face of uncertainty. Our ethical principles will be challenged. The world may try to shake us, but we must remain solid in what we know to be true.

The media tells us that we are more divided than ever. But when I look around, I see something different. I see communities still standing. I see neighbors still helping neighbors. I see love still present.

We don’t need a leader to remind us to do what is right. We don’t need a martyr to inspire us to treat others as we wish to be treated. We have the power to choose kindness, justice, and unity—every single day.

The goal of division is clear. The question is: Will we allow ourselves to be divided?

A Call to Action: Get Grounded in Love

This hike at Cascade Valley left me feeling hopeful because it reaffirmed something important: I have the power to choose. And so do you.

• Turn off the media. Step away from the distractions that tell you who your enemy is.

• Look around you. See the people in your community for who they are, not for what someone else tells you they are.

• Act with love. Do unto others as you would have done to you. It’s simple, timeless, and it works.

• Find your grounding practice. Whether it’s nature, yoga, meditation, or simple acts of kindness—return to what keeps you balanced.

The world is going to keep shifting. Systems will change. Leadership will change. But who you are—that is your choice.

Let’s choose to build, not break. Let’s choose to love, not fear.

No matter how chaotic the world becomes, we can always find peace within ourselves. We can always choose to make this world better, starting from within.

So I ask you—what are you rooted in?

Prather Trail, Valley View Area of Cascade Valley

Author Kyra Jackson Holistic Wellness Nurse, Yoga Practitioner & Facilitator