The week before Spring Break for me was hell. So much was going on between school, work, and my personal life that I just could not take it anymore. My favorite professor told me that I should do something that will fulfill my soul over Spring Break. But what exactly could that be and how could I do that? From her words and with some encouragement from friends, I decided to escape to my favorite city in the south: Savannah, Georgia.
I had only been to Savannah once before this past summer with my family, and instantly fell in love with the city. From its history to its buildings to the people and everything else, the feeling I get when being in Savannah is one of belonging, like I am meant to be there. I hope one day, dear reader, you feel the same way about a place because believe me, it’s quite a magical feeling.
Being by myself was something to adjust to, but after about the second hour of the four hour-long drive, I realized that it did not matter what music I played in the car, and it did not matter if I refused to stop along the way, there was no one else to worry about except for myself. For this trip, I also decided to stay off the grid- I did not check my Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter, which I must add was very difficult, and only texted a few individuals to check in and let them know I was safe. Throughout my trip I did many different things: I toured a historic home, learned about architecture in Savannah, visited a few museums, ate awesome seafood, and spent a lot of time at the beach.
Now while I would have liked to have had some company on the trip and felt a little selfish about not inviting others, I realized that I needed to do this. I needed to prove to myself that I could enjoy my own company, that I could learn my way around an unfamiliar place. While it was awkward going to restaurants and asking for a table for one, I quickly got over it. This trip for me was a time to step back from the busy life I lead, and to evaluate how I am spending my time and to help me cope and deal with some personal issues that have come up recently. The moment I realized that all these worries, fears, and disappointments had disappeared was when I watched the sunrise over the beach. I have always had a fondness for the sun and watching it rise was almost like a spiritual experience. Something about seeing the light peek through the clouds and the quiet sound of the ocean hitting the shore back and forth, I just felt at peace, like nothing could bring me down, and I felt at peace with life.
So now, here I am, writing to you, dear reader, to encourage you to take a solo trip. Go on and adventure off to your favorite place or to somewhere new and undiscovered by you. Try something new and get to know yourself because before you know it, you may not have this chance to be spontaneous due to the responsibility of the real world that will set in. As said in one of my favorite films, Up!, “adventure is out there,” so I want you, dear reader, to go out there and find it.