Meet Hunter Bright

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Hunter Bright. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Hunter, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

“Know thyself.” – Greek Proverb

This story will be quite personal, and may affront those with a weak heart and stomach…

My mother and father divorced when I was very young, around 3 years old, and for the most part my father was absent from my life aside from arranged visitation periods, though even then I never developed much of a bond…quite the opposite, rather. I was raised primarily by my mother and maternal grandparents, particularly my grandmother or “Grannie.” My mom, Greta, worked extremely hard in a high-stress job environment in order to give us a stable life, which by all means she did, and I would not be where I am without her and her sacrifices to this day. She would often work from morning ’til late hours well into the evening, which largely left the responsibility of looking after me to my grandmother. While I am infinitely grateful for the love they showed me, I ultimately lacked a consistently strong, masculine, disciplined influence in my developing years. Without shame I will say that I was quite spoiled and protected, not beholden to much real responsibility or the development of independent social or emotional skills. Oone might see this as a blessing and an advantage, and in some ways it surely is, but in reality even comfort may weigh as a sort of burden when one grows to become what ought to be a functional adult. Parallel to this, I was throughout my youth and well into early adulthood a “chubby guy” with niche, obscure interests and a naturally introverted personality, which ultimately drew ridicule and misunderstanding upon me from others. With growing up in such an environment, I lacked a kind of vital Strength within to stand up for and love myself properly. I don’t say this with a lack of gratitude for my upbringing, but especially as a child we are beholden to our circumstances and environment, yet as an adult it is our responsibility to recognize this and change.

Seeking a place of understanding and belonging, as an adolescent a latent loneliness led me towards “falling in with the wrong crowd” to attempt some sort of feeling of acceptance. I began using cannabis at the age of 14, eventually trying other various substances at far too young an age, though by Grace nothing that was completely destructive. Back then, I considered many of this group of people to be my friends, but one learns that “friend” is not a term to be used so lightly. I cannot say anything too detrimental towards them, since each had their own troubled pasts and personal issues, and to this day I do believe if anything I was a “light in the darkness” for them to some extent. However, when we lack confidence and self-worth, there is a natural tendency to please others and sacrifice ourselves for their benefit. In many ways this giving, complacent nature of mine was taken advantage of, or at least not reciprocated, by the people I held so close…but in my mind, it was still better than being “alone”. More importantly, as a group they were headed farther and farther down a path which I could not continue to follow. While today I do find beauty in strictly living “for the moment”, without a vision for the future to counter-balance that sentiment a degree of destruction often awaits us, and thus was my path and way of coping with life for many years. The amount of times I should have spoken up for myself, told people off, and walked out of rooms for good…I can hardly count. Despite what I have said about my upbringing, my family did impart decency into me, and by the end of my high school years I grew tired of these pseudo-friendships and self-destructive habits and made a difficult choice to sever many of these relationships including my “high school sweetheart.” I cannot express entirely ill-feelings towards them all, of course, and would like to particularly mention The Sneary Family, The Cruz Family, Ryan, Diem, Danny, and Andrew as some of the best people in my life during that time period. That isn’t where this story ends, however…

Upon diverting my life-path in this way, the greater part of my twenties were spent as a sort of reclusive hermit. I found it difficult to even consider forming any new friendships beyond surface-level connections, as I still had not reclaimed my power or found my true purpose at this point. Therefore, I projected the past onto the present and future, expecting that any new acquaintances would ultimately take advantage of my nature once again. I continued using cannabis throughout this time, and had a stint with alcohol for a few years (I really got to liking stout beers…haha), spending most of my time outside of work on fleeting fancies such as video games and aforementioned substances. I was an avid musician in my early years, playing piano as a child, french horn in middle school, and a run with bass guitar during my teens, yet this reclusiveness and self-doubt even led me to put down my instruments which had always brought me so much joy. I was obese, mostly sedentary, and while deep inside I knew that there was a purpose for me in this life, for so long I could not see it or know it, and more importantly truly believe in it. Yet this latter point was the driving force within that allowed me to press on and never give in to my loneliness. The game series Dark Souls, and the manga series One Piece also played a major role in my life during this period, inspiring me to never give up and always press on, and brought me the understanding that no matter one’s circumstances or past choices, being alive was a gift to be cherished.

Despite your world view or religious/spiritual views, I invite you now to suspend disbelief for a moment and embrace the possibility of something beyond this Earthly world. I briefly mentioned work before, and first I will elaborate on that. In 2008, my senior year of high school, I decided to enroll in “youth apprenticeship” for graphic arts where one would substitute a half-day’s core academic classes in favor of leaving school to be in a workplace. At this point I had become somewhat of a “flunky”, so I figured anything was better than being “stuck” at school all day. That place of work for me was Dalton Print Shop, a locally owned small printing business in Downtown Dalton, Georgia, my hometown. I worked there for 17 years, leaving as of this year of 2025, and am extremely grateful for the time spent there and the experience I gained. With that said, this place ultimately became another “trap” for me, and I say this with due respect, where my creative nature was squandered in favor of more basic, mechanical work and a focus on production. Yet, given my state of mind and being throughout this time, it was a stable, supportive place for me to be and earn somewhat of a living, so I fell into complacency there and in a way accepted that this might be all there was for me. It could be said, though, that a wild animal can only exist and be happy in a cage for so long without the stirrings of something greater arising within.

Admittedly as I approached 30, with the arrival of the “Covid Era” and much uncertainty in the world, I fell deeper into despair and approached a breaking point of giving up on myself. During this time, in early 2020, I was given temporary leave from my job and supported by unemployment meanwhile, giving me an opportunity to do some local traveling, explore new places, and begin to get back in touch with the world of Nature from which I had felt disconnected for so long. As a child I had always enjoyed the outdoors, going through Cub Scouts and taking various extra-curricular educational classes at Dalton State including botany and wildlife biology (I loved reptiles and amphibians, particularly). I spent a lot of this Covid-era time traveling into the mountains, driving winding roads, and getting lost in my thoughts. It was through reconnecting with this beauty of Nature and Self that a renewed sense of life filled my spirit and urged me to continue onward. I returned to work regularly at the Print Shop in late 2020, and this was when things began to positively change for me. A person appeared one day at the print shop, the most beautiful woman I had ever seen, and whom today I could only describe as an “Earth Angel” (for their sake I won’t provide any names, but she knows who she is.) It had been many years since I had considered connecting with someone new. As I mentioned before, I did have a “high school sweetheart” whom I loved very much and dedicated much of my time and energy to, yet she had deeply rooted problems of her own, and ultimately things became sour between us which was in part a cause of my spiraling despair. Yet, though it might sound lame, this new “Earth Angel” inspired me to try and give Love another chance, be in romantic or platonic either.

This was perhaps the most pivotal moment of my life until that point, for I had a realization that if one has nothing truly meaningful to lose, no concrete dreams, hopes or aspirations, then what is the point of fear and doubt? What was holding me back, then? Perhaps you could call it an “awakening” moment, if you wish. Though ultimately things did not develop beyond friendship with my “angel”, in communicating with her a natural sense of confidence began to arise within me. This might sound a little lame, but if I could ask “the most beautiful woman in the world” for a date, then what else could I do? And why not? I saw this connection as a sort of Miracle, where I had largely been an Atheist for most of my life, and which led me to question my entire world view. I began to pursue a path of spirituality and inner-healing, a path to reconnect with the optimism and creativity of my inner-child. Around this same time in 2020, my cousin Emma and her partner Gabe, who had been living in Atlanta and attending university, returned to Northwest Georgia to live on her grandparent’s farm. We had been apart for many years, yet as I pursued this path of healing and forgiveness, in early 2021 I took this as an opportunity to reconnect with my family. At this time, I also committed entirely to improving my health both spiritual and more importantly physical, and set myself on a rigid weight-loss and fitness journey, ultimately losing 85 pounds by the end of 2021. I accomplished this by furthering my connection with nature, hiking in the mountains as much as possible, improving my diet and eating cleanly, even doing a vegan diet for the better part of 8 months, and learning as much as I could about personal health and wellness. Herbs, beyond cannabis, became an integral part of my healing journey and personal practice. I had been aware of and interested in herbalism and holistic health throughout my life, though never dedicated myself to it or rigorously implemented it until this point.

The seemingly miraculous conjunction of all of these events, and through personal reflection, meditation, and a will to change, without even being conscious of it I naturally developed a greater sense of confidence and self-worth. I took a leap of faith and with gratitude can say I landed squarely back on my feet. I started treating myself better, and thus naturally only allowed others to treat me better, too, learning to set boundaries and ignore belittlement and more importantly the inner voice of self-doubt and self-loathing. One small victory changed my entire perspective, allowing me to see my potential once more. Throughout this journey in 2021, a correlation occurred in my mind during meditation that if I was able to improve myself in these ways, I could show and inspire others to do it, too. Particularly I feel that many young men will connect with this story, or at least that is my hope. I did say before that I had always been naturally inclined to help others, and now at last I saw a way to do it meaningfully without self-sacrifice. My cousin Emma graciously granted me the opportunity to begin growing plants on her farm, and thus was the earliest beginning of HB Herbs, my herbal remedies business. Also, I began to practice tarot reading as part of my personal healing journey, and started an account on Instagram called Illuminous Spirit where I shared inspirational messages with others in hopes of fueling them along a similar path of growth and transformation. I am now currently in the process of combining both of these worlds into one, herbalism and spirituality, in the form of a holistic healing service called Morning Star Spiritus.

In one sense you could say I recklessly threw myself into the World, defying fear and staring it straight in the face. This is the only way to overcome fear, to act in spite of it. There is no age-limit on revolutionizing your life, and you are allowed to change who you are at any time despite what others may say or think. These events set me upon the path I walk to this day, maintaining my health and sharing inspiration with as many lives as I can reach, serving as a testament to the potential of the human spirit and following the guidance of Grace. You will never lose by betting on yourself.

So in short, it could be said that I was able to regain my confidence and self-worth through sheer perseverance, a re-connection with the Natural world and faith in something Beyond. Yet also, of course, I cannot place the credit entirely on myself. It could be said the the outer world we see is a reflection of what is inside of us. By the kindness and love of new connections as I emerged from this darkness, I saw that I was someone worthy of real love and appreciation. I saw that there was never anything “wrong” with me, who I was at my core, and that my past was not to be ashamed of. This changed me from within. By taking a leap of faith and leaving behind the things that were not meant for me, that did not truly appreciate me, and that did not match my potential, I allowed true blessings to enter my life. The people you surround yourself with, harsh as it may sound, determine how high one can rise. The Universe, God, or whatever you would like to call it sent angels into my life to restore a sense of hope, and for that I am infinitely grateful. To that end, I must also give myself credit for acting on these seemingly transient urges from within, and co-creating with what the Beyond had in store for me. With bravery and courage, and perhaps a touch of lunacy, I believe this is a path that we may all embark upon, and that is what I intend to impart on to others for the rest of my days.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

As of now, as mentioned in the previous section, I am in the process combing both my spiritual and herbalist services under one roof known as Morning Star Spiritus Holistic Healing, with my brand of herbal remedies HB Herbs coexisting under this umbrella. Through this it is my wish to impart on to others the hope and inspiration needed to embark upon one’s own personal healing journey and restoring health and spiritual sovereignty, a hope that the current state of the World seems to have sapped from so many souls. By participating in local farmers markets, artisan markets and educational events, and by maintaining an online social media presence, I intend to serve the local communities around me and beyond by sharing my knowledge and my story. I am adamant about supporting local economies and businesses, and inspiring others to lean into local community support and connection. By fostering this sense of community and intimacy, I believe that this will naturally provide a sense of belonging and purpose in myself and all of those whom I am connected with. We are all in this together, and we collectively hold more power than one may realize.

In a world that is leaning more and more towards technology and urban living, through my passion for foraging, gardening, homesteading, herb crafting, and spiritual practice I hope to maintain the traditions of old, bridging them in coexistence with modern ways of life.

As for myself, I am life-long lover of music, my favorite genres being metal, jazz and classical, and am an avid concert-goer. I am a total One Piece “fanboy”, keeping up with the story to this day, which continues to serve as a source of inspiration in my life. I enjoy and am passionate about fitness and weight-lifting, habits that can benefit us all throughout our entire lives and which enable us to live life to its fullest, and be of the greatest help to those around us. I try to spend as much time in Nature as possible, for I see this as our true Home as human-beings, not something that we are separate from, and am dedicated to being a life-long steward of the Earth. I am an endless seeker of knowledge and wisdom, always curious about the unknown and a deeper understanding of life and its functions. I always enjoy a good black coffee, nice and strong, and am a bit of a “foodie”, seeing this as a way to experience a certain depth of cultures from around the world.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Three things I would attribute to being impactful on my journey are kindness, the experience I gained in working with others at my print shop job, and my innately adventurous nature and willingness to try new things.

Despite what one might personally be going through, by exhibiting kindness and an awareness of what another might be going through themselves, a concept known as “sonder”, one naturally cultivates within a capacity and adaptability of life and it’s challenges. It is in my belief, too, that we receive back what we put out into the world, and while we should be mindful of our own boundaries, a willingness to reasonably aid others will rarely bring about disappointment. When we have the urge to compare ourselves to others, take a moment and take a step back to look outside of yourself, and you might just see the common experience shared between us all.

The retail and marketing experience I gained in my years at Dalton Print Shop set me up to be a successful entrepreneur. There is a certain professional conduct that is best to be upheld, and is key to developing prosperous business and customer relationships. Also, in this digital age, being an entrepreneur seems more simple than ever as one is able to be their own promoting and marketing agent. Even in a situation where we feel out of place, there is always something to learn. Always keep your eyes and heart open for the lessons hidden even in the darkest of places.

Without a sense of courage and adventure, our personal life experience may become limited and at the behest of our circumstances and self-image. I encourage you to be bold and brave, and to take opportunities that are presented to you even if they seem fantastical (within reason). Always follow your intuition, your heart, and your dreams. There is no age limit on revolutionizing your life.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

When feeling overwhelmed, I find it best to return to simple joys that connect us with our childhood nature. This could be partaking in leisurely activities which bring pleasure and comfort, or treating oneself to a special occasion. This will be different for everyone, and you should do what is meaningful to you. Maintaining a consistent spiritual practice and wellness regiment, too, helps carry us through difficult times. Though in difficult times it may seem easier to let your personal habits slack or fall to the wayside, by persevering and sticking to it one may feel truly fulfilled. You will never lose by investing in yourself, and generally we always feel better when we do something to benefit ourselves even if we don’t feel up to it at the time. Most of all, it is important to listen to your mind and body and to allow yourself to rest when it is called for. In the modern day, many people are locked into the “grind” mindset of going nonstop, always blasting towards goals, and seeing rest as a negative trait. In my opinion, this could not be farther from the truth, for sometimes inaction, and allowing time for self-reflection and integration, slowing down to understand our recent experiences, will move us forward the most.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://morningstarspiritus.etsy.com
• Instagram: morningstarspiritus, hbsherbs
• Facebook: morningstarspiritus, hbsherbs

Image Credits

all personal photos