“Don’t stop believin’, hold on to that feelin’” – Journey, 1981
Today’s column has two purposes; one being that I feel so honored to have visited my “second home” of Black Mountain, N.C. this past weekend and was privileged to witness a very timely, inspiring, and celebratory event. Some of my readers may recall a previous column when I spoke of the tragedy of Hurricane Helene and how it devastated the beautiful Blue Ridge communities of western North Carolina. Lives, homes, businesses, were lost and topography forever changed.
I recall my youth visiting family there in the summertime when the train whistle woke me up very early! In later years spending time at my “second home” there, I listened for that train whistle each morning. It was beautiful, peaceful, and inspiring. In visits to the area since Hurricane Helene I have missed that mournful and poignant morning call. The last freight train over this stretch of track was the Hickory-Asheville local on Sept. 26, 2024, a day before Helene, by then a tropical storm, caused severe damage along the rail line and Loops from Asheville to Old Fort.
Thankfully, that stretch of track has now been repaired and repairs will continue in the future. The Norfolk Southern train that rolled in to Black Mountain on Saturday, April 18, 2026, was an affirmation that hope is alive and residents of that beautiful part of the country can continue to look forward to ongoing repairs and construction, both of which are badly needed still.
So – what is the correlation to my message this week?
Watching the happiness and joy brought to the many faces who were watching this mighty locomotive travel the repaired tracks after nearly two years illustrates how resilience and hope affect our bodies as well as our minds. Hope, resilience, and joy physically improve health by lowering stress hormones (like cortisol), reducing blood pressure, and boosting immune system function. These positive states foster faster recovery from illness, better cardiovascular health, decreased pain perception, and more consistent health-promoting behaviors, such as exercise and healthy eating.1
After climbing the Old Fort Loops, a crowd greets the Norfolk Southern train as it slowly passes the old Black Mountain Depot in Black Mountain, N.C., on April 18, 2026. (Photo provided by Sharon McMahon)
The Black Mountain residents I witnessed were overjoyed to see yet another step in reclaiming their beautiful vista after so many months of fear and worry. While the tracks are not completely restored, this was a beginning, one that instills a hope for the future – and don’t we all want that?
From Auschwitz survivors to POWs to those undergoing personal trauma – their hope keeps them physically able to remain alive through their angst. Additionally, it is well documented that fear, anxiety, and worry have a significant role to play in our physical health and conversely an optimistic outlook and confidence in the future will help us to have a healthier immune system.2
Yes, it was a relief and a joy to witness the happiness and excitement from those who had endured such a horrific weather tragedy and all that goes along with it, long after it becomes “old news.” For me personally it was an added bit of satisfaction and delight as my grandfather, great-grandfather, and even my great-great-grandfather, Lt. Benjamin Atkinson, a Civil War veteran of the West Virginia Union Cavalry, worked for the Railroad, as engineers. I like to think of all three of them smiling to witness such an event last week.
Dear Readers, practice joyfulness, delight, and calmness whenever possible and you will find the result will be a healthier immune system for you and more pleasant relationships with family and friends.
1 Northwestern Medicine, nm.org
Sharon McMahon, CNWC
The opinions expressed in this article are not intended to replace advice of your personal physician or licensed health professional. Please consult your physician for any issues you may have related to nutrition or fitness activity.
Be the first to comment on "She hears the train a-comin’, it’s rolling ‘round the bend"