This past weekend I embarked on my annual visit to Hershey to visit my friend Averie. Besides a place known for its chocolate, since I met my friend, Averie, Hershey has always been a destination of friendship and good times for me. Usually we attend a Renaissance Faire in the Fall, but this year we decided to try a new adventure and take a road trip to the New Jersey faire. I greatly looked forward to our first road trip together, but I also very much enjoyed my solo car trip on my way to pick her up.
Although the destination can be fun, road trips are wonderful adventures in and of themselves. They are a time to relax and reflect (while still remaining alert at the wheel of course). It is just you, your thoughts, the occasional inspiring song, and miles and miles of open road. A person can really dig deep in these moments, or just take the opportunity to be with oneself.
A car is a space where you don't have to be doing anything else at the time. You can't jump on your phone to check Facebook (or at least you shouldn't), or crack open a book to catch up on studying (or at least you really shouldn't), or really do much of anything else except drive and reflect. There are no other responsibilities or tasks that you are able to complete at the time and so you have the time all to yourself. It is extremely freeing because it forces you to take that time and mentally seek out your innermost thoughts as you physically seek your final destination.
It is a great space to work out emotions, especially with the aid of poignant and inspiring songs. Sometimes, though, you need the songs to just be mindless pop songs to lose your troubles in, or soaring rock ballads that get your heart pumping as you journey forth into the great unknown. Music is a powerful device, and an otherwise silent, enclosed car is a wonderful space to fill with song and work out all of that pent-up emotion.
Sometimes what you need to do is go out into the world alone and have an experience. There is no greater adventure than the one you create yourself. A car is a perfect empty canvas to paint a new experience on. It is a space that you control and such alone time is crucial to embarking on such experiences. That is not to say, however, that the experience cannot be shared with a friend. The experience is only doubled when a companion is added and it is a great joy to share such an adventure with a good friend.
There are times when what is needed most is to take to the open road, alone or with a companion, roll down the windows, real or metaphorical, and find your destination and yourself. Adventure is out there...in your car?
