In 2009, I found myself in a spiral. I had just suffered a terrible personal loss, and life as I knew it felt like it was falling apart. I needed a change—fast. My best friends were getting married in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, and I made up my mind: I wasn’t just going to the wedding—I was going to start over. Gatlinburg had always been a magical place for me as a child, a place that felt safe and full of promise. So, I took action.