This past weekend for my school's Fall Break, I got the chance to relive my childhood by taking a 6 hour bus ride to Disney World with a few close friends. 

I was skeptical at first of even paying $200 to go on the trip because I'm a college student and Lord knows I could've put that money towards rent or food.. or booze. Nevertheless, I stuck to the wise words of my favorite Disney character Aladdin, "sometimes you feel trapped.. and want to be part of a whole new world." And it's true, sometimes you get lost in the hustle and bustle of college that you forget the real trouble of the world, that too many people grow up.

It was an amazing experience to get out of Charleston for a couple days and enjoy the magic of Disney World. It was also the Food & Wine Festival in Epcot so naturally I got to delve into some delicious treats while enjoying the entertainment of rides and a few shows. It was downtime much needed after the semester I've had so far this Fall. 

I figured the Magic Kingdom would be among the worst part of my experience. Screaming kids, parents scolding their children, youngsters on leashes.. it all sounds like a nightmare. Rather, Magic Kingdom was my favorite part of the trip because the ambiance of the park made me feel as though I was in another world. I got lost in the enchantment that Walt Disney seems to add to every story he tries to tell. This adventure brought back the times of my youth in which I spent countless hours watching movies, playing sports outside with my twin brother and just enjoying everything around me without a care in the world.

I got the chance to meet my prepubescence hero , Aladdin, in the flesh and man I have to say he sure was deep into character; which made the interaction give me the "stomach butterflies". He kept telling me to "take the magic carpet out for a ride" and "enjoy the roses in the castle's garden". I found it compelling that even being a young adult I could still relate to him and still get that kiddish feeling of having your favorite character come to life, right in front of your eyes. 

One thing I took away from this trip is the importance of enjoying the little things in life. Writing for the Odyssey and enjoying my time with friends and family are among my favorite pastimes. I'm trying to avoid becoming complacent with my life by focusing more of my time on the people and things that I love. 

Hope the start of a new month is just as refreshing and eye-opening for you as it has been for me. Cheers!