An Untethered Soul
This picture popped up on my phone this morning. This time last year, my brother Mike was in Dallas. I was preparing to go hiking in Big Bend with my friend Gale.
Something felt off—I could sense it. His energy was different, and he mentioned cutting his visit short to return to Kansas. As I was leaving, he said, “Tell Gale hello.”
When I got in my car, a thought hit me like a wave: “I should have given him a hug goodbye. What if I never see him again?” I really said that to myself.
Mike was happiest on his horse.
He had a tough exterior, but beneath it, he was sensitive, kind, and caring. Mike was the kind of person who would give the shirt off his back to help a friend. He had a gentle, kind soul—but as one of his friends so poignantly described, he had an untethered soul.
It makes me think, what is an untethered soul?
What Is an Untethered Soul?
An untethered soul is someone whose spirit isn’t confined by the conventional boundaries of life. They seek freedom—freedom in thought, in movement, and in the way they live. This makes them both magnetic and enigmatic, drawing people in with their authenticity.
But untethered souls can also appear restless, always yearning for something deeper, something more meaningful. They often drift between the peaks of joy and the valleys of sorrow, their inner vulnerability unmoored by the world’s expectations.
Mike embodied that untethered spirit. On his horse, he found his truest sense of freedom—a space where his soul could roam without constraints. For him, being on horseback wasn’t just a passion; it was a connection to something greater, something sacred.
Mike’s Legacy
Mike’s untethered soul was part of what made him so special. He wasn’t bound by the expectations of the world, and because of that, he connected with others in a way that was deeply genuine. He gave freely, without hesitation, with a kindness and generosity that was uniquely his.
As my mother poignantly said at Mike’s Celebration of Life, “I saw his soul,” reflecting on seeing him on his farm in Iowa with his horses,
Those words have stayed with me.
Mike’s untethered soul, with all its beauty and complexity, taught me so much about embracing life fully—even when it feels unmoored.
As I reflect on that day a year ago, I think about the hug I didn’t give and the words I didn’t say. But I also think about the lessons Mike left behind: to live authentically, to give freely, and to find your own untethered joy—whether it’s on a horse, in a moment of connection, or in the quiet freedom of being yourself.
