In the United States we are free people and have the right of freedom, but what is it that gives us that feeling and sensation of freedom? If we do not always feel free do, we really have the right of freedom then? Some people may get the feeling of freedom differently then others, some may think they feel free their everyday lives others may need to just relax at home, or go shopping, maybe take a vacation. For me to feel free I am the last one on that list, I need a vacation wherever I want to go to feel free. There I am sitting on the beach with my feet in the soft white sand that is also warm to the touch from the kiss of the sun. I walk out into the crystal-clear water and the water surrounds my body hugging it softly. The way the water felt was soft like a silk blanket and it would flow so smoothly through my fingers. I will be taking you on my personal trip to Navarre Beach, Florida. As I like to call it, the most relaxing place on earth.

            This trip starts on August 22nd of 2019, one of the best most relaxing, exciting trips I have ever been on. I have never felt freer more able to do what I wanted. Why is that? I was away from all my stressors, which are the things that lead to all my stress.

I remember my aunt texting me saying “How about a trip to the beach this summer before school starts? You can fly to us and then ride the rest of the way”.

As soon as I got that text I jumped right on the opportunity. The only thing going through my mind was “I get to leave behind my stressors, say goodbye to my family for two weeks and enjoy life to the max.”

My mother took me to the airport at about 4 am the morning of April 20th. I could barely keep my eyes open on the car ride there, but I was so anxious to take off and leave everything behind it was the only thing that kept me awake. I get to the airport in Akron-Canton and when I step through the doors the rush of cold air conditioning hit my skin like a cold front instantly raising all the tiny hairs on my body. There was a refreshing smell of freshly brewed coffee and breakfast sandwiches from the surrounding vendors. I get to my gate and wait for the plane, more quickly then I know it the loud thundering noise of the engine takes us up into the sky.

I lay asleep in my seat but get awoken by a tall, black haired flight attendant asking if I would like anything, it was too early in the morning so I said “no thanks, but I would like a cup of plain black coffee.”. I drink my coffee in five minutes, and I was ready for a nap, I lay my seat back as much as I could in the cramped up, side by side seat airplane lay fast asleep. If it weren’t for the loud squealing of the tires, I would’ve slept all day in that plane.

 I open my eyes to the sun shining brightly into my eyes and the slight warmth coming through the window. At this point in time I was already free, in my happy place of South Carolina which is where my Aunt lives. I stayed there for two days anxiously waiting to leave for the beach. I wake up again early in the morning on the 22nd and get ready for the long drive to the beach. I remember it still being dark out, but the freshness of the southern air was so awakening that you did not need a coffee to get you going, yet I still did get myself a coffee. The moon was bright still looking down on us, we traveled down south on the highway cruising the whole time. We went through the city of Atlanta which I have never seen in person, the skyscrapers and traffic was just mind blowing and I was just saying “wow”. To me it was one of the most amazing sites I have seen, I love the city and the diversity of people. Finally, we reach Florida and are reaching our destination of Navarre, we pull into the RV park we were staying at and there were palm trees everywhere just staring at you as you walk or drive by.

            Finally, we get to go to the beach, my most favorite part of this trip. The part where I got that full sensation of being free. We cross a giant bride that goes over the water taking you to the beach we were visiting, as we were crossing this bridge, I could already tell that this place was going to be beautiful. The water was sparkling blue and the ripples from the wind made it one of the most amazing bodies of water I have ever seen. We cross the bridge and step out onto the path that leads us to the beach currently the sun was hanging directly above us and suffocating our bodies with its heat. I took my sandals off right away so I could feel the soft with sand on the bottoms of my feet.

 My aunt warned me saying “be careful that sand is going to be extremely hot with this sun out today.”. Stubborn me just said okay and kept walking, she was right though the sand was like walking on coals so I ran all the way to the wet sand by the water where I could cool my feet down.

 At this point it is the first time seeing this water and I was instantly saying to my aunt and uncle “I want to move here and die here.”, it was the most beautiful sight I have ever seen in my whole life.

The clear blue water was a mirror reflecting the sun back at us, you could see the mile-long boardwalk going out into the ocean and boats out on the horizon sailing away in the sea breeze. Speaking of the sea breeze it was cool and smelled like the sand and saltwater, the way it was flowing through my hair was relaxing. At first, I did not go into the water I just laid on the hot beach the sun burning my skin with its rough kiss and I suddenly fell asleep. I awake 20 minutes later sweating from the sun and I said to myself it was time to get into the water. I step up to the edge where the water meets the sand, there was all types of seashells and I walk into the water it had a warm touch to it from the sun, you could also see the small fish swimming up to your feet touching you as they were curious. I felt so free at this point in time and so relaxed that I had an epiphany, and this was you shouldn’t limit yourself because you don’t have the money or because you have to go to college, but to do what you want to do in life that makes you happy and if it does not work out the first time you can always try again there are always people that will support your decisions in life. From then on, I have changed as person and started seeing the big picture in life, the world is your playground enjoy it and explore it you never know what you might learn about yourself or life.

            So, what gives you freedom? You may have to go on a trip or do something new for the first time to give yourself that freedom or maybe you already know what that freedom is. For me it was laying there on the beach with the sun looking down on me and the sound of the ocean singing a song. For me it was that epiphany, the do what you want in life that makes you happy. You never know where life may take you and life has its lows and highs but through those persevere for that feeling of being free. That feeling is one of the best and most relieving feelings in the world.