Roadside relaxation

When can I feel most at ease?

Let’s be honest, there is nothing that beats an extended period of relaxation these days. For some people that means taking a week off and going hiking or maybe even out of the country. Some people may just take a week off and stay at home and watch movies and shows on Netflix each day. Relaxation is defined in many different ways depending on the person for sure. It’s something that we all want to do, it’s just not as easy to do when we have obligations.

We are so busy doing things that we don’t necessarily want to do that sometimes we fail to realize the importance of relaxation. I mean, we might be working a long day at work and at the end of the day, the stress just eats away at us. Or even if we aren’t working, we may have to worry about dealing with a car accident we had on the weekend or getting over a nasty illness we obviously didn’t ask for.

There’s so many things that get us sidetracked from relaxation, and that’s the absolute truth. But when you finally get the opportunity to do so, there is no feeling that gives more relief than preparing yourself for your mental trip to euphoria and returning completely refreshed.

I remember having a rough week many years ago back when I was in high school. There were exams coming up, and I had to study for them extensively to make sure I was able to achieve the grade I desired. On top of that, I was working, and wouldn’t be able to get home until late at night. There was a lot on my plate, and I really wanted to just be able to drop it all at that given instance. But I had a lifeline approaching, and it gave me the motivation to keep on going.

So, what was this lifeline exactly?

At the end of the week, I was leaving out of town with my family on a four-state road-trip across the Southern United States. For some people, road-trips can be boring, and tedious as you drive for miles upon end in the middle of nowhere. You have your radio on full blast in hopes that the music keeps your eyes open because you loathe the long drive so much. But road-trips are different for me and are my ultimate idea of relaxation.

They are therapeutic for my mind, and they help take my mind off of everything going on in my life. Instead of thinking about the papers I have due or the hours I have to work the week after, I get to enjoy a whole different experience. I look out of the window and see and endless field of flowers and greenery completely untouched by humans. The plants grow tall and wild, with nothing to stop them from doing so. In addition to this, they needn’t fear of being mowed down by a lawnmower or eaten by large animals.

The grass is greener than in the city, and maybe that’s just because it gets to relax constantly with zero stress. Driving on for a few miles more, and I start to see trees growing in a vast community and closely packed together. And it’s completely different from anywhere else because they are all the same size as each other, and almost look identical. They aren’t under the same strenuous conditions as the trees in the amazon, who have to compete with each other for sunlight. Those jungle trees have to get the right sunny patch and grow faster than other trees just to survive, but these trees grow equally, and stress-free at that.

Then we drive past the farmlands and start to see cattle and horses grazing the fields. They have miles of well-furnished land to run around, and plenty of trees to sit under for shade when the days reach the highest temperatures. Throw in the infinite food supply they can access in their hay, and the nearby pond for water, and you realize that the animals sleep well knowing they have nothing to fear for in the coming days. They live an absolutely carefree life, and I bet they would pity us if they had to see how we as humans live.

I love to think about all of these things while I’m on the road in my little mind bubble so to speak. It works wonders on my mental state and is sort of my meditation. Just seeing all of these sights and forms of life in complete harmony is like eye and brain candy for myself, and it just kept on getting better when the scenery started to change. It started getting colder, and I wondered why until I realized the gorgeous mountain staring right at us in our car.

It was just like looking at the stereotypical mountains you see in the movies or on pictures with a snowy peak. I knew they existed, but never thought I would be blessed with the chance to see it in person. At this point in my week, I would have had stress and anxiety weighing on me, but on this road-trip, it was instead amazement and a fervent peace of mind. But even a great road-trip involves returning back home to the world we are used to.

Normally, when leaving from your vacation you would expect the stress of your daily life to return to your mind. You are ready for it to consume you, and nullify all of the joy you just experienced, but to be honest, this wasn’t the case for me. I achieved the ultimate state of relaxation and did what I loved to do most and get lost in my thoughts. It was the grand meditation that my body, mind, and soul really needed, and I was ready to return to everything I left behind.

I returned to school and told everyone about my experience and even brought my friends some souvenirs. I went to work the next day I was scheduled, and told everyone the same story, and completely rescinded the weight I had on my shoulders that had remained there for so long. My dream came true, and I had my very own roadside relaxation.