This past Spring Break, like many hip and trendy teens, my friends and I embarked upon a road trip to visit each others' hometowns. A little background - that meant DRIVING from Nashville to Columbus, Georgia to Chicago, Illinois and then back to Nashville in the time span of about five days. So to say we bonded is an understatement.

Though on the way to Georgia we stumbled across this road, that my friend who actually lived there had never even seen, for a solid 20-30 minute drive. And guys let me tell you it was honestly the most beautiful road I have ever laid eyes on.

I am talking having a long, hot day in the blazing heat and then getting a bowl of ice cream type of beautiful. The kind you do not question.

It was surrounded by trees and grassy fields that could have been straight out of the "Sound of Music" and we passed it just at the right moment to hit the golden hour. Driving down that road with the windows down, the sun literally setting, music blasting (probably the Lumineers), and my other friend sound asleep in the back, I knew it was a day for the books.

So the next time my friend who lived in Georgia drove home from school she tried to find that same road because I mean who wouldn't want to eat ice cream after a long hot day? But she couldn't find it. There was no exit sign that said "PSST REALLY COOL ROAD DOWN HERE BRING YOUR FRIENDS" (but that would have been helpful). It was like it was just gone. And maybe we forgot where it was or Siri just wanted us to take the scenic route but either way at that moment she just had to keep going to Georgia.

I think sometimes when things are really great in the past we try really really hard to recreate them. We want to experience the feelings we once had during that time so we chase down loose ends and go back to places that hold memories for us. At times this is great, like going back to my elementary school is a great time. I feel super tall, the teachers remember me and for a small second I can remember what it felt like to be that young and not care about anything except recess. But other times this constant chasing and obsession with the "good old days" tires me out. It is like I am running backwards as if somehow that is going to change time or change certain decisions I made in the past. And it is not just a jog, it is a sprint to go back and experience that one day again instead of the way it is now. Although this is more likely to harm us then really give us the feelings we are longing to have.

Now I am not saying that having memories like the road in Georgia are bad things, in fact I am saying the opposite. They are great things. These times allow us to feel and to know happiness and that is what life is about. What I am saying is to allow yourself to live in the present and maybe even find another beautiful road, perhaps in Tennessee or Oklahoma or California, because the road in Georgia is not the only beautiful thing or good thing or happy thing that will happen to me. It is just one of them.

So sometimes its okay to miss the exit because it allows you to move forward to get to your destination.