Seniors #2 Journal --In a Good Place
POST BEFORE MONDAY DECEMBER 5I'm not always up to date on the most novel vernacular, teen or otherwise. By the time I start using some "new" expression, it's bottomed out to the level of drab cliche. So if you get a "you go, girl" or an "atta boy" from me, try not to gawk in amazement at me as if I'm some ancient mariner.
Within the last year, people my age and in my small circle of very cool friends have begun to use the phrase "in a good place," as in "his boss gave him a raise today, so he's in a good place" or he was able to watch football all Sunday afternoon, so he was "in his good place." Getting a raise might put you in a "figurative good place," but watching football all Sunday afternoon and evening on your couch in your Mancave is a "real good place."
Which leads me to a somewhat personal question: Where's your "good place?"
You SHOULD answer VERY literally and specifically, sparing no expense of travel. The place must exist.
Maybe take me to some sunny exotic island in the Bahamas, send me schussing down the Rockies, or lead me to traverse your favorite hiking spot on the Appalachian Trail.
Or perhaps you're the more "stay at home" type, who like Henry David Thoreau, could make a full day out of bird watching, sitting in his cabin doorway. Then stay at home. Describe what it's like to be playing the guitar or "chewing the fat" with your friends. Take me on an easy five mile jog with your Ipod at full blast and with your eyes (and other senses) wide open.
This journal will be somewhat similar to your next creative writing assignment. You can use this assignment to stretch your writing muscles before running the real race.
However, one requirement of your post at Schoolsville is that your "good place" MUST be a "good place." Please, I want no glimpses into any personal mansions of doom and gloom. As I might have said once or twice in the 70s, "Don't be such a downer, man."
For Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, listening to the music of the "two Italian ladies" took his soul to heights that not even two weeks of prison lockup could destroy. Can our "good places" do the same?
posted by JTF @ 10:16 PM
55 comments
55 Comments:
If anyone knows me well, or knows me at all, they know that between the months of May through September, I am busy in my “good place”. If my friends want to hangout, they know the answer will most likely be “sorry, but I’m going to the boat this weekend.” It’s a place that never gets old for me, the river. Instead of going on exotic vacations, my family and I go out on our boat, anchor out at a cove, and blast some good country music. It feels a bit routine because I know almost every nook and cove on the river, yet I find it fun and new every time. The best, most wholehearted, and funniest people I know, I have met there, and I know these people will be apart of my life forever. It’s their “good place” too. People come from every walk of life there, and even if you are too tired and sun-worn to go out for one last water-ski and wakeboard session, people-watching from the fuel dock can entertain a person for days. It’s a sight to see a 100-foot yacht to tug on by, followed by a little pontoon boat filled the brim with about 20 people over the limit of the boat. My “good place” is just being there, and my whole family hates leaving every time. I believe that a “good place” is a place that can, even on your worst days, make you happier, and that is what the river is for me.
Every single one of us has that place we go to for emotional rest and recuperation. And as original as this sounds, my good place for me is my bedroom. It's literally the only place I can go to that I know will be perfect to help regain my emotional equilibrium. I know that I won't ever be disturbed when I'm in there, laying on my bed. Either writing, listening to music, or reading. I find that solitude, silence, and even soothing music can regain your emotional stability. Because we all go through so much in our lives sometimes, feeling as if our brains are carrying a ton of metal weights of nothing but pure worries, stress, or even an excessive amount of thoughts. And my brain never stops working. Thoughts come and go, and when I simply relax in my room without being disturbed, I feel as if I'm rejuvenated and refreshed as can be. So fresh like the minty sensation of a York's peppermint patty. The key factor for this is silence and no interruption. And my bedroom is the type of environment that I can turn to for temporary isolation. Because for me, I need to recharge my batteries and be left alone before I can tend to everything else. Who ever knew that a bedroom could be your perfect fix of ultimate relaxation and be considered as a good place.
My "good place" is a resort called Wild Dunes. It's a gated resort on the Isle of Palm in South Carolina. The beaches are calm and it is the most relaxing place in the world to be. I anticipate our two week vacation every time my mother books the house, even though I may still have to pass another six months before I can actually be there. My family and I spend every day there in a cottage just the right size for a four-person family. In the mornings, my brother and I will go out for a two mile bike ride or walk around the entire resort just to talk about things or see the other vacationers doing the same or playing a game of tennis. Then, we spend the maximum amount of time sitting on the beach until sun-down. We spend every night on the "Grand Pavilion"; a large deck attached to a row of houses resembling Rainbow Row consisting of two large pools, a snack bar, and a bar where people can mingle all surrounded by palm trees; sitting around for hours listening to the live entertainment every night. The entertainment is along the lines of DJs giving lessons on how to shag, or, our personal favorite, a single man band with a guitar and harmonica with the down-to-earth southern sound. The setting is so relaxing to hear the waves mesh with the music overlooking the beach surrounded by friendly people. There is something about the lifestyle in the south that makes me envious of everyone that lives down there. People are so kind, outgoing, and laid back. As Darius Rucker sings in one of my favorite songs, "I'm in a southern state of mind". I'd consider South Carolina my "good place".
Everyone has there own personal "good place" where they can just sit back and relax and not have a worry in the world. My "good place" is on the coast line, soaking up the sun on a beautiful summer day on the beach. This "good place" is somewhere I can truly never get sick of. A normal day at the beach for me usually consists of laying back in my beach chair while wiggling my toes in the sand and listening to my favorite Pandora Radio station. Also playing in the salty water for hours until my fingers are completely pruned. There is no such thing as a bad day at my "good place", even though some days are better than others. I prefer it to be sunny with a light breeze and the waves to be as big as possible. On a day with good waves you won't find me out of the water much. I'll be busy body boarding, catching waves, riding curls and having a blast. I love laying on my board looking out over the horizon waiting for a good wave. I have no worries and I can just relax and let my mind fade into the waves. The beach is definitely one of my favorite places and my "good place".
I have many “good places” that make me very happy and I realize how grateful I truly am. One of these good places, my favorite, is my family room with my whole family; dad, mom, brothers, and dog. That’s all I need. Being in the family room together watching our favorite show, the Eagles game or just a classic movie. My dad and brothers make the hottest, biggest fire and we all sit and laugh while eating popcorn. That is my absolute favorite “good place.” I realized it’s my this for the simple fact that I love being with my family and if I’m having a bad day or something is going on in my life, I will automatically forget about it and enjoy myself in the moment. When we’re all there together having a great time, it’s the happiest I can be. I realize my family is always there for me and I love them all so much. I never want that time we spend together to end but it usually does with all of us falling asleep on the couches. I am usually in my “good place” a lot and the more I get to spend there, the better.
When most people say that they are visiting the dentist’s office they say it with a frown on their face and with a loath in their voice. For me on the other hand, I count down the days till I see the dentist or when I can shadow again. There’s no other place I would rather be than in the dentist’s chair having my teeth cleaned, or better yet looking at someone else’s teeth. Whenever I’m in that office I feel right at home, I’m living on an adrenaline rush that I feel I’ll never come down from. I love looking at the booklets they’ve put together of the before and after shots to display the work that they can do to improve someone’s smile, I love reading the dental magazines, and I love hearing the noises of the different tools being used at once. Most people would cringe at those noises but it’s like music to my ears. I know that someone will shortly walk out from behind the door with a bright smile on their face, and a mouth full of clean teeth. I feel that most people aren’t confident in their smile unless they have pretty teeth, which is why one day I want to become a dentist and help those who need dental work. I want to give everyone the opportunity to have a beautiful smile, and the confidence that no one can steal away from him or her. The dentist’s office is the one place that I can truly say is my happy place. You can always catch me smiling, laughing, and just exploring everything that I possibly can whenever I’m there. Whether it be shadowing a dentist or having my own teeth cleaned, I am always happy and never willing to leave.
My “good place” is Glasgow Park, strange I know. But, every morning my mom and I go for a run there whether it is 3-6miles. It doesn’t matter rain or shine, freezing cold or blistering heat my mom and I are out there doing our morning run. Most people think I’m a nut and think running is torture. I love running and spending time with my mom. My mom works a lot so I do not get to spend much time with her so running is the only time we really get to be together and talk. We both enjoy talking, nature, and exercise so Glasgow is our favorite place to go. When asked to think of my happy place I think of all the precious time spent with my mom so I immediately think of Glasgow. Running on the pavement past the playground, through the trees and around the gigantic hill and ponds. It is beautiful and peaceful there, a place where I can reflect on everything going on in my life and take a break from the hectic schedule of my senior year. Family is very important in my life and until this my mom and I were not very close and now we are best friends and I cannot imagine not having my mom involved in my life. That is why I love Glasgow, my mom, and our time spent together running.
Whats a good place? To me a "good place" is a place that relaxes you,puts you in a better mood and just makes you happy. With that being said my good place would have to be driving in my car. I know that is a very odd statement but something about driving in my car just clears my head. It always puts me in a better mood to drive down roads see all the cars zooming by my windows down,the fresh air filling up my car and the music blaring. The different buildings,signs and landmarks all going by. I love the fact that i can drive anywhere and see a million different things and people,in a short amount of times. The thing about driving is that it never gets boring,your always passing something new,have to be thinking even if your only going around the street. The best is when your going somewhere youve never been before, you see new things and have to find your way and use your sense of direction, and if you get lost its like a maze and you have to find your way back. Driving is just something i love, after a long day at work nothing relaxes me more than just driving in my car. Driving is just one of those things that never gets old,no matter where you go. My car is like my home away from home.
My “good place” is being in the New Jersey beach towns. There is always something new and exciting every single day. I am lucky enough that my grandparents have a beach house in Avalon right on the bay, it is pretty awesome, whenever I feel like not going to the beach my family, friends, and I either go for a swim or for a ride on either my grandparents boat or wave runners. When I am at the beach I don’t have a single worry or any thought for that matter in my mind. I go down basically every Thursday thru Monday, from late may to late September. My favorite thing about the New Jersey beaches is that there is such a wide variety of people that go there. We may have one group of cute girls stay in the house next to us for one weekend, and then the next weekend have an even cuter group. During the summer I don’t really complain about anything, how could I though, every day going outside meeting new people, getting a nice sun tan, going up and down the coast visiting different beach towns at night. That is “my good place.”
As my sister and I grew up, we dragged some of our childhood 'good places' into our teenage years. Most notably, the beautiful, elegant, wooden swing set that all the neighborhood kids fought over became a special place. The, now, old dirty and rusted swing set lets us sit in the coolness of the late night, gently rocking and talking our troubles away. The damp grass brushes against our ankles as we watch the lights flicker in the nearby houses. We quietly talk about our ideas of their lives as if we are just observers with no lives of our own. When we're swinging on the faded red and blue plastic, we don't have the same worries that we did inside. We're carefree again. In the summer, the fireflies are the only ones still awake. The neighborhood goes quiet in the dead of night. Sometimes we get carried away with the freedom, laughing and smiling and overflowing with energy. Sometimes the calm air and the clear lights lull us into the peaceful trance that we so desperately needed.
The anxiety of my life can't reach me when I'm with my sister on the swings. The faded bold colors, the rust, and the splintered wood still create the same childish wonder for us. It's still bright, elegant and beautiful to us.
Every day I find myself very appreciative and grateful for my family, and the one place my extended family can come together during the summer. Ever since I was a baby, my favorite place in the entire world was my grandparent’s beach house. Going to the beach for my vacation was always the highlight of my summer. The beach house was simply my safe zone. Besides being relaxing and calm like you’d expect the beach to be like, the atmosphere was warm and welcoming. I always felt safe at the beach house since I was a little girl, and my parents would always let me have more freedom to roam around and explore there. I gained a lot of trust the moment we stepped foot out of the car every time we arrived at the house, and I liked the freedom it gave me. Since I was eight, I used to walk, run, ride my bike, take my cousins, or even take the kayaks I have to this one special place that overlooks the bay. Every night I’m at the beach house I find a way to go to my special spot and overlook the water as the sun sets. You can see the island in the middle of the bay with birds flying from the trees, and all the other neighbors on their boats chugging along. It’s the most peaceful spot I’ve ever been, and I was heartbroken when they started building a house on my special spot this past summer. Still to this day, no one in my family knows exactly where I go every day at the same time. I find it reassuring to have my own little area where my worries can disappear for the moment, and I can reminisce on all the memories that I gained at my special place. That special spot is without a doubt, “my good place”, and the hardest thing to do is look over the bay and know I won’t be back till next summer.
Unfortunately I can only visit my “good place” once a year, twice if I’m extra lucky. It is a place I have visited every summer since I’ve been born, just like everyone else on my dad’s side of the family. It is located 7 very long and boring hours North and is an excellent place to just “get away” and reflect on God’s beauty. This place is Lake George and it is my serenity. Not only is the scenery breath taking and the lake very refreshing, but I am surrounded by my entire family the whole time. My absolute favorite thing to do there, the thing that “takes my soul to new heights,” is when I am laying on a blow up raft, drifting and bobbing with the tiny waves, and baking in the sun. I can hear the motor of the boats as they whisk by, I hear the smacking and splashes in the water as the kids are pushed off the floating dock, and I can hear my aunts gossiping at the shore break and my dad loudly making some silly joke on the dock as he fishes. If I venture to open my eyes and look around I will see sky touching mountains covered in lush green. I will see the bluest of blue skies, with not a cloud anywhere to be found. But most importantly, if I look back at the shore, I will see my entire family relaxing, goofing-off, and just simply having a good time. This is a place where I can get away but yet can be surround by the people who mean the most to me. I can be bobbing with the waves, mentally nowhere to be found, and yet be right next to the people I love most. Lake George is my one and only “good place.”
Unfortunately I can only visit my “good place” once a year, twice if I’m extra lucky. It is a place I have visited every summer since I’ve been born, just like everyone else on my dad’s side of the family. It is located 7 very long and boring hours North and is an excellent place to just “get away” and reflect on God’s beauty. This place is Lake George and it is my serenity. Not only is the scenery breath taking and the lake very refreshing, but I am surrounded by my entire family the whole time. My absolute favorite thing to do there, the thing that “takes my soul to new heights,” is when I am laying on a blow up raft, drifting and bobbing with the tiny waves, and baking in the sun. I can hear the motor of the boats as they whisk by, I hear the smacking and splashes in the water as the kids are pushed off the floating dock, and I can hear my aunts gossiping at the shore break and my dad loudly making some silly joke on the dock as he fishes. If I venture to open my eyes and look around I will see sky touching mountains covered in lush green. I will see the bluest of blue skies, with not a cloud anywhere to be found. But most importantly, if I look back at the shore, I will see my entire family relaxing, goofing-off, and just simply having a good time. This is a place where I can get away but yet can be surround by the people who mean the most to me. I can be bobbing with the waves, mentally nowhere to be found, and yet be right next to the people I love most. Lake George is my one and only “good place.”
The nights i can remember being the happiest are the nights i spent with my friends. My "good place" isn't anywhere in particular. It's everywhere. It's the people you're with who make the experience wonderful. Every weekend one of my friends takes turn hosting a "movie night", during which we, you'll never guess, watch movies. But there's more to it than just the movie; we play games, joke around, and most importantly, talk. Out of the fifteen or so of us, we all go to 6 different schools, so seeing them even once a week is a gift in its self. I love my friends to death and we always have a good time, and the 6-8 hours we spend together feels like mere minutes. Anywhere we go together, be it a parking lot, field, park, house, restaurant, beach, you name it, it's where i have the fondest memories. Movie night is a "good place" in my heart.
It's a Monday morning in the summer time. The high for today is supposed to be in the upper 90s. I wake up early to get pick up by my neighbors Bobby, Justin, and Andrew. We take a hour and a half ride down Route One in Bobby's truck. Our destination is Dewey Beach. When we get there we drive right up on the beach. That's my favorite part. We set everything up and just relax while listening to country music. I spend all morning getting a perfect tan. And by the afternoon the boys have burgers and hot dogs cooked for lunch. After lunch my sister and all my other neighbors show up and we just have a great day relaxing with our feet in the sand. It's even better when the ocean is the perfect temperature for swimming. I love just spending the day joking around and taking nothing seriously. For me, this is when I am in a good place. When I am with all of my friends, having a fantastic time with not a care in the world.
After every morning practice, no matter how hot or cold it is outside, I find myself sitting in the faded red chair that lies on my backyard deck around eleven o’clock. Maybe not when it’s raining or if I’m at school, but weekends and summer week days I sitting in my chair, my “good place.” During the summer, I like to smell cut grass and listen to the birds that sing in the woods nearby while I eat a scrumptious breakfast/ lunch. The air is light and the sun warms me as I relax and enjoy doing absolutely nothing. When it’s cold and there is snow on the ground, I’m most likely always going to be outside sitting in the chair. When it snows, everything is quiet. There is no tractor or birds singing and when cars drive by, the tires make a unique crunching noise that can’t be described. The air is thick and the scenery is extraordinary, with its dark green pine trees and bare branches covered in a white glaze of snow. Everything is so peaceful when I sit in the chair, especially when I block all my worries and distractions out of my head and simply close my eyes and listen. I listen to the birds, listen to the soft breeze that brings a chill down my back, and listen to the soft snow that covers me and everything around me so gently. When I’m sitting in the chair, I escape from my family and school and just clear my mind. Even if I’m only outside for five minutes, it is the best five minutes of my day.
One place that I consider my “good place” is the Florida Keys. I traveled to the Keys with my family while I was in eight grade. It was the first time that I was traveling during spring break. When I got off the plane, the airport was extremely crowded and I thought the trip would be filled with extremely overcrowded beaches and no time to go into the water. On our way to the resort, we decided to stop at a restaurant for lunch. It was a tiny little café off the highway. They sat us outside on the porch. Surprisingly, the café was extremely quiet and secluded for being near a major highway. I had one of the best sandwiches I had ever eaten. After we were done lunch, we left to go to the resort. When we finally arrived at the resort, we walked into a beautiful lobby. We checked in and went to our room and I got changed into one of my bathing suits. I was so excited to go to a beach. When I got to the beach, I was amazed how quiet and beautiful the beach was. The beach had many chairs so you could lay out and enjoy the sun. There was also a ping pong table, a hut where you could buy smoothies, and a pier. I laid on one of the chairs and was so relaxed. I decided that I would go into the water and it was so beautiful. The water was the perfect temperature. In conclusion, my “good place” is the Keys because it is one of the most beautiful and relaxing places I have ever been.
Everyone has their good place, where they feel comfortable and always happy. They feel at home. My good place exists far away from Delaware; a place that holds thousands and thousands of tourists each year. A place that is truly magical. Every other year since we were just barely 6 months old our family would travel to Disney World. Even as a very curious five year old I would look around at all the magical characters and I knew I felt at home. Even going last year, as a 16 year old, I felt the magic upon entering Disney World. This magical warm feeling Disney World gives me is incredible. At night my good place gets even better. There is the parade of so many characters; Mini, Mickey, Princesses, etc. It does not get better than this. The parade has been, is, and always will be my favorite part of Disney World. This is where the true magic prevails. Even though I only get to visit my good place every other year, and will not visit it the next few years because of college, Disney World will always feel like my good place. It is truly magical and makes me feel happy and very comfortable. Next time I am in Orlando, Florida I will make sure to visit my good place and feel the magic.
People, who know me well enough, know the things that keep my attention are clothes and fashion. I have only been to New York City a handful of times, but everything about the city is what puts me in “a good place.” The hustle and bustle of the packed streets is not for everyone but it is very exciting to me. The upbeat lifestyle is something different from what I am used to and is appealing to my personality. The streets are filled with people from all different walks of life wearing clothing that describes their personalities and backgrounds. Take a walk down 5th avenue and see all the high-end stores and the hoighty-toighty shoppers. The extravagant window displays and intriguing pieces of clothing in the window will stop you in your tracks just to take a minute to look. I can browse for hours in Saks 5th avenue without buying anything and still come out of the store smiling. The store is like a museum to me. The high-end designers from all over the world showcase their collections all in one location. New York City’s energy and Saks Fifth Avenue shopping triggers my imagination for fashion and to see potential even on a bad day. When I am visiting the city it seems like everyone there from all walks of life see the dream and this takes me to a “good place.”
My “good place” would have to be the stage. When I am on the stage in a play or a musical I forget about everything else that is going on in my life. I become that character in the show and I don’t have to worry about any of the problems or stresses in my life. I get away from everything. The stage gives me time to really enjoy the night and let everything go. I can truly get away when I am performing. Everyone in the show creates an energy that keeps you going and makes it like the stage is their “good place” too. Everyone can be happy and do their best in the show. I love the energy that the cast can give to one another. It makes you forget about problems; you can pick the problems back up in the morning. When I am back stage getting ready for the show I feel the nerves but we form a bond with each other and we can help each other calm down. I can go to my “good place” only nine times during the school year. I wish I could be up there, on the stage more often.
My "good place" would have to be New York City. I don't know what it is about this concrete jungle but every time I find myself walking the crowded streets, I find myself dreaming the impossible. Being surrounded by every walk of life just has an overwhelming effect on me. All the lights, billboards, skyscrapers, and attractions just bring a new ora into perspective. Being there makes me feel like anything is possible and when times get tough, that's just what one needs; an imagination. Knowing that so many artists and actors have walked these streets gives me this hope that I can do anything. New York City is that good place for me; where I can feel safe, live out dreams, and most importantly, be happy. A lot of people have told me, especially my parents,that it's a crazy, fast-paced town that's filled with crazy people. But for me, this just adds to the excitement and life of this place! Being able to have a different experience everyday makes me fall in love with my good place even more. For my good place, I need this sense of adventure because I usually need my good place when my life gets too boring or too overwhelming, and New York City helps me do that every time I escape here. This city of dreams is, and always will be my good place.
Many people say that their “good place” is on some secluded beach where the sand is white, the water is clear and there is no work to be done. My “good place” is far away from any of that, the complete opposite of white sand and clear water because my “good place” is sixteen hands off the ground, on top of my horse’s back. It does not matter where I go or what kind of a mood me or my horse is in. Once I step into that stirrup my mind clears. It is as if for a little while I get to step out of the hustle and bustle of every day life and into this serene, fantasy world. I get to slow down and appreciate the simplest things-the sky and the passing clouds, the trees with the changing leaves, and of course the animals in their natural state and I love all of it. It is the greatest feeling to be in a saddle on top of a horse’s back. It makes me appreciate animals and nature more and more each time. To know that you have an animal that is so strong and yet so fragile with you is the most incredible thing anyone could ask for.
Growing up in a house with four other kids can sometimes be a little overwhelming. To escape all of the chaos, I go to the gym, my happy place.
I like going to the gym mainly because it is my personal time. Since I’ve been able to drive independently, my parents ask me, “hey Taz, can you drop off so and so here? Hey Taz, can you pick up so and so from there? Do you mind running a quick errand for me?” It has come to the point where I have had to rearrange my plans based on my siblings’. No, gym time is Taryn time – no exceptions!
Another reason why I love the gym is because it helps prepare me for my other sports: lacrosse and indoor track. When I go to the gym, I prepare myself to work hard and to have success. I prepare myself to work hard and run through the pain. I prepare myself to sprint those full field suicides at the end of practice. I prepare myself beat my opponent up and down the field during the game. I prepare myself to run that 400 meter dash. I prepare myself to run through the fatigue.
I take out all of my aggression at the gym. It’s me against the weights, me against the ply metrics, me verses the treadmill 1v1. I constantly push myself to the limit. “I just did 15 lbs dumbbell raises. Next set I’ll do 20… I just held a plank for two minutes. Next time I’ll hold it for two minutes and thirty seconds.” It is like a game to me.
After I work-out, I get the endorphin rush, so it truly is my happy place. I always leave focused, in best mood. Going to the gym also has that domino effect. You can’t just go once and expect to see result. It’s an ongoing process, so when I leave the gym, I already start looking forward to going back next time.
Growing up in a house with four other kids can sometimes be a little overwhelming. To escape all of the chaos, I go to the gym, my happy place.
I like going to the gym mainly because it is my personal time. Since I’ve been able to drive independently, my parents ask me, “hey Taz, can you drop off so and so, can you pick up so and so from there? Do you mind running a quick errand for me?” It has come to the point where I have had to rearrange my plans based on my siblings’. I don’t mean to sound disrespectful, but, no, gym time is Taryn time – no exceptions!
Another reason why I love the gym is because it helps me train for my other sports: lacrosse and indoor track. When I go to the gym, I prepare myself to work hard and to set goals and through this self discipline, I am training myself for success. I prepare myself to stay focused on the goal and endure the pain. I prepare myself to sprint those full field suicides at the end of practice. I prepare myself to outlast my opponent up and down the field and during lacrosse games. I prepare myself to run that 400 meter dash. I prepare myself to run through the fatigue.
I take out all of my aggression at the gym. It’s me against the weights, me against the plyometrics, me verses the treadmill 1v1. I constantly push myself to the limit. “I just did 15 lbs dumbbell raises. Next set I’ll do 20… I just held a plank for two minutes. Next time I’ll hold it for two minutes and thirty seconds.” It is like a game to me...and I am the victor.
After I work-out, I get the endorphin rush, so it truly is my happy place. I always leave focused, in the best mood and my mind is clear of any stress or negativity. Going to the gym also has that domino effect. You can’t just go once and expect to see results. It’s an ongoing process, so when I leave the gym, I already start looking forward to going back next time...so I can be even better.
I don’t have many places where I feel completely at home, but one place where I always feel comfortable would have to be on the basketball court. I have been playing basketball for as long as I can remember and there is no better feeling than stepping out on the court before a big game. What makes this my “good place” is that I get to do something I love, with my best friends. The fact that my closest friends share my feelings about basketball makes it ten times better. Everything is always more fun when I’m with my friends. If I’m ever angry or upset about something, once I step onto the court, it all goes away. My problems disappear for those two hours that I get to spend with my team every day. When I’m in the gym playing basketball, you will always see a smile on my face. Being at this place, everything doesn’t have to be taken too seriously. It gives me a break from everything stressful in my life and just lets me be a kid. It’s a place where I can have fun and just be myself. My “good place” is somewhere where I feel at home and I never want to leave.
For many people, their “good place” may include laying on the beach, going hiking, or even just shopping. However, my “good place” involves running. Every Sunday morning I get to be in the best place ever because it’s my time to run by myself and enjoy the outdoors. I particularly love running in the Winter though. I step outside with my ipod ready, get my feet wet from the melted snow on the ground, and finally go. Every time I begin a run, my adrenaline starts pumping and my mind drifts away from all the stresses in the world. I blast my ipod with Mariah Carey, and run to the beat of the songs. As I run up and down hills in the neighborhood I smell burning wood from fireplaces which are trying to heat homes. As I get a little further into my run, my lungs start to adjust to the cold air and I see my breath less and less. Sometimes I think about what other people may be doing while I’m running on an early Sunday morning. Despite how cold it is, I imagine that someone else out there is working harder than me and not thinking about the weather. When I imagine that, it motivates me to keep running. As I continue on this long run, I also think about Christmas time, considering it’s winter. I run by so many pretty houses with wreaths and decorations and admire the efforts of attempted snow men built in front yards with very little snow.Everything I see and smell makes me appreciate the outdoors and respect it for what it is. When my run finally comes to an end, I know I’ll have many more Sundays ahead of me to run away from reality for a little, and enjoy what’s meaningful in life.
I have many places that i like to go to. However there is one obvious place that I consider my good place. This place would be on my mountain bike riding in the woods. Whenever I am stressed out from school or life it is a place where all your stress can be relieved. I got my I pod with my headphones jamming. I think the reason I like it so much is because every time I go there is something different about it. There are so many different trails that you can go on and so many other things that you can see. It relieves me to be flying down a hill and hitting jumps, or pushing myself to make it up a hill. It takes me away from stress and drama going on and at the time the only think that matters is making it up the hill. Yeah sometimes I fall and sometimes it isn't a great ride but it is still a good place to me. The physical activity helps block your mind and the nature keeps me at ease. That is why it is my "good place". Sometimes I want to be alone so I go alone and ride by myself. Sometimes I go with my friends and make it a group thing. It’s also my good place because when I am tired and have to take a water break I can sit down on a tree and just look around. I can listen to the birds and all the other animals and just think. I can really look deep down in myself and make decisions and be at peace. Overall the mountain biking part keeps me busy and keeps things off my mind and the nature keeps my mind at ease and that is why it is my good place.
My good place is the Cape May beach in New Jersey. My family goes down to the Jersey shore every summer, and I always have the best times. The beach has always been my place to relax and just cut loose. I feel as though when I’m just lying on the warm sand, I can just disappear into my own thoughts, and the world is at peace. I usually have my iPod with me, and I can just drown out everyone with the music styling’s of All Time Low or Mayday Parade. I also love just floating in the ocean. The cool sea salt cleansing my skin and the feeling of smooth pebbles on the soles of my feet are the most relaxing things in the world to me. The best time to go is the weekend after Labor Day weekend because most of the crowds have left and the beach is pretty scarce. So you’re left with the sounds of a few people’s murmurs and the cooing of seagulls in your ears.
I don’t want to be that person that says that they stay at home and love to be home. I don’t want to be that person, because although I am that person, I’m also not. I know this doesn’t make too much sense, so I’ll try to be a little clearer: I’m not a home-body. I don’t spend my time at home when I have the chance to be out. That being said, sometimes being home is the best place for me. I think that means that I’m going to have to do the most cliché thing ever and say that my “good place” is my room. My room is my sanctum. Some people go to a vacation memory when they get down; I close my eyes and imagine sitting cross-legged on my bed, reading a book until my back aches from being bent over the pages, or being fixed in my desk chair working on a new charcoal drawing. My room is comfortable. It has posters of my favorite bands, some pictures that I’ve taken, my livelihood, basically. In my room, I can create masterpieces, I can dream of bright futures, I can figure out who I want to be. While I do wish for adventures and rendezvouses in exciting places like Paris and Rome and Frankfurt, right now, I’m totally fine with saying that my room is where I go when I need to be “in a good place”. I feel like I can be most myself there, whether that means taking pictures, letting music enter my bloodstream after a stressful day, or simply taking a catnap in the quiet of the late afternoon. My room is definitely where I am when I want to be “in a good place.”
Even though there are many beautiful places in the world, there is one that sticks out in my mind and fits my description of being in “a good place.” This place is my grandparent’s condo in Longboat Key, Florida. The condo is right on the beach with a beautiful view. When I am lying in my beach chair with the water at my toes watching the vibrant sunset, I’m in a good place. It is very soothing and relaxing. I can hear the smooth rush of the ocean and feel the warm salt water brush past me. Usually the temperature is just perfect when I go down there. Whenever I am stressed out, I think of myself lying on this beach and I become calm. Another thing I think about when I’m in “a good place,” is happily being with family and friends. When neither of my family or friends is fighting and they are all getting along, I’m in a good place. I like the having the feeling of peace around me. It’s too stressful and annoying to have bad relationships with the people you love. I always feel secure when I’m with family and friends. They give you a sense of trust, honesty, and love that everyone needs in their life. When both of my good places are happening at once, I feel complete serenity and comfort and I am in “a really good place.” For me personally, I just want to be relaxed and happy in my good place.
Many people may not know this about me, but my “good place” is on the slopes in Park City, Utah. When I go skiing it’s an indescribable feeling. Unless you have gone before you do not know the rush of going down a 32,000 ft. mountain or the feeling of fresh powder underneath your skis. Skiing to me is like walking, I love it and it comes with ease. If I’m not skiing in Utah you will hear me saying, “I’m up in New York this weekend or I can’t wait to go skiing this winter…” When it comes to skiing, every turn or every piece of snow I touch becomes new to me. I may go down a slope ten-thousand times and realize that that ice patch that I just hit and fell on was not there the other nine thousand nine hundred ninety-nine times. One of the best parts of skiing is the scenery watching. Riding up the slope on the lift is also one of the most exhilarating things because when I look below and all around I can only see snow and trees. To me, this setting is heaven and I can’t get enough of it. The other best thing for skiing is the blanket of snow I get when I go to Utah. When I go skiing I can just fall in it and wouldn’t even feel a thing because the snow is so soft and perfect. Skiing is my “good place” and I don’t know what would happen if anyone tried to take it away from me.
It takes one nine and a half hours for one to get from Camden Airport to my "good place." Mr. Fiorelli might be getting annoyed by all of the assignments I do being about Greece but it was very important to me. Waking up every morning in the Lalayianis's house knowing that I would not have to deal with America was the best feeling in the world. For the first time in my life, I was happy for two straight weeks. It kills my mother that the happiest I have been was two weeks that she was not the least bit apart of. I kind of feel bad about it too, but I can't help it. Here there are grades to make, expectations to fill, relationships to manage, fish to feed, and stress to cope with. Many of the kids that came probably brought the baggage that America put on them but I left everything behind. It probably was not a good idea to just forget everything and everyone I had known the first 16 years of my life but that's what I did. Many relationships I had suffered because of it. But who could blame me? I was in my happy place. Many people have blamed me but I made my decision and I would do it again.
My ‘good place’ would have to be a bridge in Bassano, a small town in northeast Italy, which had an amazing view of the river it crossed leading up to the Alps. Although I have only seen it that one time, aside from the pictures I have taken, when I was there I felt like I could have stood there all day. The view was fantastic: the small rapids in the water, the trees along the river, the banners and streamers hanging on the bridge from what I’m guessing were leftovers from Carnival, and the huge Alps Mountains in the background reaching into the cloudless blue sky. I went there on the Italian Exchange in March. I was with another American student, her Italian partner, and my Italian partner. We were walking around the city. Another part of the town I enjoyed very much that could be my ‘good place’ would be a small park that the four of us stopped at to sit on a bench for a while. There we watched kids chase dogs, dogs chase kids, but mostly dogs chase dogs. There was a small playground and several open fields separated by small walkways. It was very similar to most American parks, except for the view of the Alps over to one side of the park. I enjoyed the entire town of Bassano, which, being at the foothills of the Alps, was very hilly in some parts. The streets were mostly a neat cobblestone pattern. If I had to go with one ‘good place’ I would say it was the entire town of Bassano.
I remember when I was in 5th grade and my parents decided to build/own a house in Kissimmee, Florida. At first I was skeptically until my parents told me we were using it as a vacation house and we would rent it out to make money. My first time visiting the house was amazing. My family and I traveled to Clear Water Beach, Florida (about 2 hours from my house). I felt that I was in paradise. The sand was white as the clouds and the water was clear and warm, like my dad says “It feels like bath water”. The beach looked like a picture that I have seen in a magazine with the title “Welcome to Paradise.” The only thing I needed was a butler bringing me cool drinks to sip on by the ocean. Unfortunately, no butlers, but there was a snack bar! I went to explore and found this unusual type of sorbet. It was sorbet that was in the shell of the flavor it came from. For example, coconut came in a half of a coconut shell. My favorite, however, was the pineapple. This was perfect for the hot 100 degree weather Florida has. After finishing my sorbet, I would take a splash in the ocean. Unlike the Atlantic Ocean, this water which is in the Gulf of Mexico makes little tiny waves, making it easier to swim. After turning a nice shade of red, I returned back to my house in Kissimmee. After going to Clear Water, I have gone back almost every year. This beach is truly my paradise.
I like to think that any place can be a “good place”. It truly is not about the actually place but the experiences you’ve had their. For me, my “good place” isn’t some beach in the tropics or a city in Europe. Although those places are great, they just aren’t the place I close my eyes and get swept away to when I’m having a bad day. For me, my good place is the pool at my beach house. It’s nothing compared to the city of Paris or the beautiful beaches of the Bahamas but it makes me happy. It’s not just about the scenery or the view, although the view from the pool isn’t half bad. There’s nothing like the sight of the true blue chlorine filled water from under my favorite spot under the gazebo. Sure, maybe the next thing I see is a tennis court and the never ending green of the 18th hole, but it’s beautiful to me, not just because of the view but because of the people I’m with and the memories we’ve made. Whenever my dad suggests that we go to the pool, I usually groan because I’m not the biggest fan of swimming and the chlorine somehow always turns my hair this odd greenish color. I always tag along with the rest of my family anyway. My favorite time of year, when my “good place” is at its peak, is definitely Memorial Day weekend. The pool is finally open after what feels like the longest winter season ever. For me, it just marks the beginning of summer. I always sit in the same lawn chair under the same gazebo with the same towel which always has to be in the sun. I put my shades on and crack open the latest book I’m reading. There’s no place, no time, anywhere, and quite like it. That moment when I’m finally all settled in my spot with a good book is truly magical. It takes me to another world, one where unicorns exist and everyone’s nice and no one ever gets hurt. I’m completely at peace, completely relaxed and that’s why it’s my “good place”. School becomes some faraway place. That pool is the one place where the vitamin D seems to just suck the stress right out of me. It’s my “good place”, the place that when I close my eyes I picture being there and instantly a smile creeps onto my face.
I have two distinct “good places.” I really can’t decide which I prefer so rather than commit to one, I’ll elaborate on both. They’re vastly different. The first is working, the feeling of euphoria. I think Brad Pitt puts it best in Fight Club, when he says how much can you know about yourself if you’ve never been in a fight? Pushing your body to the point of exhaustion and than further reveals you, to yourself. How much you can take and keep moving forward. Working out correlates with life. If you work hard, you will reap the rewards. Working out gives you an understanding of reaping what you sow. Although working out gives a visual representation of your work ethic, were studying or an intellectual activity does not. I could say this is a contributing factor to a little bit of academic sluggishness at times.
My other good place is just driving around with my friends on late summer nights. I loved when we party hop all over Delaware and drive on 95 for longer than we would be at the actual party. We would rotate who would drive on each particular night and we packed their car to its full capacity and than some. Don’t get me wrong; I loved being at the parties with my friends. But sometimes it was more fun in the car after or in between parties at 2 in the morning, basically talking sh*t to the guys. We talked about girls, partying, and pranks. We made fun of each other and than talked about girls some more. We all embellished on the stories but we didn’t care, it was just a blast. I’ve made so many memories in the wee hours of the night just driving, than I can remember. No one remembers the nights where you got a great night’s rest. I miss the summer.
I pace around trying to control the nerves I hold in the pit of my stomach. “Just breathe, just breathe.” I tell myself. It doesn’t work; I become more and more anxious. I close my eyes and take a deep breath attempting to forget about the number of people in the audience-my friends, my family, strangers. Then it starts. I walk into a blinding light feeling this intense heat rush over me. The music starts. I pull the microphone up to my mouth and sing. That’s it, I just sing. And it seems that with each note that passes through my lips, the nerves go along with it. I become free in a way. It’s like the light melts my nerves and allows me to just be with the music. The feeling after that is just indescribable. It’s like the music takes me over and I go. I am no longer held back from my nerves. I do not see anyone or hear anyone, just the music. The stage is my good place. It is magical in that it gives me the strength to do something that I otherwise cannot.
When I think of my “good place” I immediately think of my backyard. In my neighborhood, there are only seven houses so most of the time it is relatively quiet outside. At any time of the year, I know that I can walk out onto my deck, stretch out on a chair, and lay there for hours at a time and never get bored. Being in my “good place” allows me to relax and free my mind from any stress I am feeling, no matter what the cause. I love laying there staring at the bright blue sky and puffy clouds or the black of the night with the brightly shining stars above the trees. My house backs to the woods, so while I’m lying there, I am also able to watch animals play and run around. Doing this reminds me of how beautiful life can be in the simplest way. It reminds me that I don’t always have to be going places with friends and spending money to enjoy myself. I spend at least an hour in my “good place” once a week so that I can enjoy the peace without any interruptions. No matter what happens throughout my day, I know that I can make it better by going to my “good place”.
My “in a good place” or “happy place” doesn’t really exist in the physical sense of an actual place. But much like Andy Dufresne my “in a good place” feeling comes from listening to music. To be specific one band in particular always floods me with different emotions and can always cheer me up or make me think about life and just wanted to succeed in whatever I may do. That band is called Explosions in the Sky and what I like about about them is that they are entirely instrumental, which to me can express so much, maybe even more than words. Instead of somebody you think you know singing about the pain they are going through or how much money they make, the instrumental style in which Explosions in the Sky play allows for so much to be open to however you want to take it. If I am having a bad day with school or am stressed out over homework or even mad about something I always find myself turning them on wherever I am and just being able to sit down and reflect upon myself and the world with no distractions. And when I am in that special place nothing can hurt me or seem to hard to accomplish, the music just flows through me and gives me inspiration and motivation to cheer up and reflect on life and the way I am living mine, and to just look and remind myself that I am not living so bad. The music takes me away and my mind wanders on how the world and my life will turn out but in the end I know everything will be just fine.
When I think of that one place I go to leave the world behind me I go to the pond behind my house. The pond is the place in which I do all of my intense thinking. The pond is for my serenity. When I don’t know what to do or how to deal with anything in life I walk on down to the pond and sit on the tunnel where the water enters and exits from. On nice days I just lay back and think about life and think about the reason I am on the tunnel. I think to myself about how simple life truly is when you take a step back and look at the world for a minute. That spot is where I think about how my problems are no more important than anyone else’s and how mine are the size of ants when it comes to the world as a whole. Thinking about the beauty and peacefulness of the water is truly calming to me. While you are rushing around in life you never stop and think about the beauty that is right in your backyard.
If I had to pick a place that makes me feel good it would be the gym. Not like a specific one, just being surrounded by weights. Any vacation I have been on I still go and workout and everyone looks at me like I’m insane. Some people might call me a meat head or whatever but working out is what makes me happy. I haven’t slept well since I was an infant and the only way I can fall asleep is if I am dog tired. If I am angry at something it always helps to take all that energy out on something too. So if I can not fall asleep or I need to blow off some steam I just work out until I can’t move anymore. Crank up the fast music with the bass pumping and it feels like a Rocky training montage. I know that everyone has their own thing but I think that if you don’t feel good after working out than you didn’t really try it enough. Everything feels better afterwards, I don’t know how else to describe it. When some people get upset they eat a ton and feel terrible about it later, but I can eat as much as I want because I just worked all of it off. If you haven’t tried seriously working out consistently before I think it could make a difference for everyone. It could change how they feel about themselves, how they handle stress, and how they interact with others. You don’t need to agree with my happy place but it could make your happy place even happier.
My “good place” is my basement. When I am really stressed out or I have had a long day, I go down in the basement, sit at the piano and just play for hours. It is the one true thing that relaxes me and takes me away from my chaotic life for a little while. I can’t really explain the feeling that comes over me when I play music. I think Bob Marely describes it perfectly when he said, “The good thing about music is that when it hits you, you feel no pain.” My basement is a cool soothing blue with a salt water aquarium built into the wall. The aquarium has beautiful fish and live corals that you could just watch forever. The whole atmosphere of the room is calm and gentle. You can hear the sound of the water filtering in the tank and sit on the comfy couch and unwind. Although most people would say that their bedroom is their haven, I must say that the basement is mine. It is my one place to get away from it all even when I can hear the hustle and bustle going on on the floor above me. No matter what circumstance I am in, my basement will always be my haven.
I enjoy many places, and can find happiness almost anywhere. But my favorite place to be, which I would consider to be my “good place”, is the beach. Every year since I was a younger I can remember looking forward to going to the beach ever year for a week or two on vacation. This was a way to get through the often gloomy cold winter months as I looked forward to the nice warm weather of the beach. Because I have gone to the beach on such an annual basis, it has become someone of a special occasion for me. I have numerous memories from my childhood attached to the beach so I can always recall a sense of nostalgia whenever I make the journey every year. The beach evokes a sense of peace and calmness in me because it’s a time when there are little things to worry about since the school year is over and also since I am out of town there are little to no distractions or bothers that cross my mind. It is a period of relaxation that I cherish and hold dear to myself, especially because it serves as an excellent chance to earn valuable family time. I may have many “good places” present in my life but I know that the beach will always stick out as the best in my opinion.
A "good place" is truely somewhere where you can get away and escape from the chaos of the world. My "good place" would have to be my basement. Basically, I took over one-half of the basement floor. Everyday I just take a break from the world and just go relax, whether it be on my old, worn down green couch watching TV or Netflix or working out in the back room after school. I even set up a ping pong table right in the middle of everything. Personally I like it the best when no one is home. I can take my iPod and hook it up to my speaker system which literally shakes the house. Just hearing the music and knowing that I hooked up the system by myself puts me in a good mood. I can blow off steam in my "good placed" too. In the back workout room have 3 different punching bags which are a great workout and really releives stress. Even if I just go downstairs to sit on the couch I can think about what's going on in my life. No matter how crazy the world may be, when I'm in my "good place" everything seems more clear and I can think without over and let my ideas flow without interruption. Its usually quiet which makes it a good place to do homework too. I think my friends enjoy my "good place" too. We watch movies play Xbox and the ping pong games are great. One game turns into two games which turn into hours of nonstop playing. My half of the basement makes me feel even more at home than I already am. It truly is my "good place"
I never feel more at home than I do in the middle of a set at a concert. To me, being in a good place is being in the middle of a crowd screaming along to songs that mean more than the world to you. Surrounded by hundreds of sweaty people singing at the top of their lungs makes me more happy than anything else in the world ever could .There is not a feeling even comparable to this one for me. The only places I ever really felt like I have belonged are at shows. I do not have a specific talent, or passion; but these people I am surrounded with do not care at all. They only facet they see is my love for the same music they have which creates an abundant feeling of acceptance. Being in a good place I feeling welcome and wanted, and I never feel more like this then when I’m bonding with a room full of strangers of lyricism and stage presence. For example, just a month ago I was singing “this was a place to call home when the world didn’t want us” along with all these people, actually feeling the lyrics makes me feel more involved than I ever do. Being able to relate through music is without a doubt my favorite good place to be.
For my good place, I visit it sometimes twice a year. It is truely the happiest place on earth...Disney World. My family always goes in December for my Mom's birthday which is 5 days before Christmas. I have been to the Disneyland in California and Paris and the Disney world in Florida but my favorite has to be the latter. Every time I go to Disney, I feel like it's my first time, I am always as excited and appreciative as a young child. There are certain rides I always go on, and there are rides I avoid. My top favorites in the Magic Kingdom are It's a Small World, The Haunted Manison, Space Mountain, and The People Mover. My favorite in MGM or now called Hollywood Studios is the Great Movie Ride. This one is my favorite at MGM because I love going through the movies and seeing them acted out when there is a shootout in the western or the gangster theme of the ride. My favorite rides in EPCOT or Experimental Protype Community Of Tomorrow are Test Track and Spaceship Earth which kind of looks like a golf ball. Unfortunately for the Animal Kingdom, I don't have any favorite rides there but it's still a good park. I feel bad for anyone who are not able to go to Disney at least once when they are a kid because Disney has been a very important part of my childhood. If you give me a Disney movie I can give you a list of most of the songs in the movie.
To get to my good place I don’t have to travel too far. Actually it’s located in my house, and we refer to it as “the back room”. This room is actually our house’s guest room, but I use it as my second bedroom. The back room is an ideal spot to escape from everything. Since it’s located in a far corner of my house it surrounds me with silence and peace from the rest of my family. It is also conveniently located next to my bathroom, and my bedroom, so I never have to walk very far to retrieve the things I need or want. Also it has the second best tv in our house; the first being in our family room downstairs. This allows me to watch the shows I love without the critical eyes of my family peering over my shoulder and commenting on everything they think is “silly” or “ridiculous”. It has bright blue walls, blue carpet, and dark wood furniture. The back room also has a full size bed with a lot of pillows and blankets that provide much needed comfort after long days of school, cheerleading, and homework. After a long and stressful day all I want is to curl up in the big, comfy bed, turn on one of my favorite shows like “Criminal Minds”, and just relax in my good place.
As most people who know me are well aware, but for those who aren't I have a passion for being behind the wheel of something, whether it be a boat, plane or even my little black Honda. And probably twice a month I decide to retreat to my "good place" by taking all the money I've saved for the past two weeks that hasn't been spent on gas or iTunes, get up at 6am, and take a nice roundabout way to the airport. On these morning I don't blast music in my car, or fly down a back road at 90mph, I just enjoy winding my way through each corner with the hum of my engine as it pushes me along. And while some people may hate driving, I find this ride in particular relaxing and a great way to unwind from school and work.
Once I get to the airport after a 20 minute drive I grab my headset, sunglasses, a map, and log book and head for the airplane. By this point I have talked to no one this morning, just time to be alone and relax. Since I work at the airport, I have the privilege of being able to check out an airplane without the help of another employee. So I grab the keys, and make the short walk to a small two sweater sitting on the ramp, fueled and ready to go. After hopping in, I pull out my map and pick a spot along the Chesapeake to explore. I plug it into my fancy airplane GPS and after a quick safety check I takeoff. By now it is only 7:30 and the radios are still silent as the east coast sleeps. Now I am truly alone, 3000 feet above the hecktic world I fumble through every day. I pass downtown Newark, than Elkton and soon I am over the Chesapeake watching boater with the same idea as me drifting off shore, totally removed. I wonder if he can see my little white cessna floating between the clouds. Soon it's time to head back to reality, away from my "good place".
After landing, I turn in the keys, swipe my debit card to pay for the plane and fill out a small amount of paper work before heading home. As I pull up the drive way it's now 9:00 and as I walk in, there sits my dad reading the news paper, with my mom next to him checking up on her 28 Facebook friends.
"Good morning" I'd say.
"Hey Jimmy, how was your morning?"
"Oh you know, Perfect"
A good place is that one special place, or state of mind that exudes absolute tranquility and relaxation. For me, my good place is my bestfriend's ocean front condo in Wildwood, New Jersey.In my opinion,the best feeling in the world is right after school lets out for summer, and I'm on the way to the beach with my friends.There is no place I'd rather be than spending countless days, or even weeks enjoying life and soaking up the summer sun with my friends and all our families. The condo can get pretty cramped and crazy with so many people living there for the summer, but that's what makes it so crazy and fun.Filled with parents, brothers, sisters, cousins, boyfriends, and girlfriends, it's never a dull moment. From tanning, to swimming and playing in the sand, longboarding, and attempting to surf, Wildwood is my favorite place in earth.
My "good place" is being in Fenwick Island Delaware, especially at sunset. There is an expression that people are either "forrest people", "beach people", or "mountain people" and I am definitely a beach person. My family has a beach house in Milton, right near Lewes beach, but when we are "down the beach" I beg to take the drive to Fenwick every weekend. Something about Fenwick beach is different than other beaches. The people and the town are a combination of the "slower lower" lifestyle, the high-strung Ocean City Maryland lifestyle, and a "chill" surfer's lifestyle. It may sound like a lot, but it is the perfect combination in my opinion. Each grain of sand is small and tan, soft enough that it feels good on your feet. The waves are big enough to play in, but small enough not to scare me away. The people on the beach are always friendly and genuine, and most of them are Fenwick Island natives. The reason that my parents agree to take the trip down there is because of their favorite crab house, but for me the best part of Fenwick is the sunset. All around my favorite time of day is when the sun is setting, but on the beach it is a phenomenon. It is like a work of art being made right in front of my eyes, and God is the artist. Sitting in my red and blue striped beach chair, with my feet dug in the damp sand as the tide tickles my piggies and my eyes are focused on the horizon, time seems to stand still. Life is clear to me, and everything makes sense. I guess that is why Fenwick Island Delaware at sunset is my "good place", because it makes me realize the importance and awe of life.
My “good place” is at my grandma’s beach house in the summer. I think the main reason I like it is because although there are tons of people, I am cut off from basically everyone and everything because we don’t have internet and we barely get any stations on the TV. I love sitting on the deck and watching the different kinds of people walk by. At the beginning of the summer there are millions of people, young and old wobbling down the street with their beach chairs, toys for their children, umbrellas, radios, and huge blow up rafts. By September, less and less people walk down the street and the bars that had been blasting music all summer slowly die down. For me, this is the saddest part about the beach because when the people start to disappear, it begins to set in that another year of school is lingering ahead. I love this house because I have been going to it all my life. My grandma’s weird taste in decorating, the lifeguards whistling, and the hot weather never gets old. When school is over, it doesn’t feel like summer until I have been there.
Life can be overwhelming and everyone needs their own personal “good place” to escape to when the real world is too much to handle. That place for me happens to be my dance studio. Beyond the phones ringing, loud music, excessive chatting in the lobby, and drill sergeant choreographer is my place of serenity where I can feel however I want to feel. No matter how bad my day seemed or how stubborn my anger is I can step into my home away from home and it all somehow disappears. My problems get left at the bell chiming door as I’m welcomed by familiar faces and sounds. Little kids come screaming my name from all directions and I can’t help but feel the upmost importance. I walk into the back room and am always greeted by the girls I’ve come to know as family. I finally enter into my real “good place” when I step in the doors to class: to the wood paneled room surrounded by wall-covering mirrors and a barre that stretches down the entire way. This is my “good place.” This is the only place I can say I truly let myself go and forget about everything. The music drowns out any negative thoughts and I can put all my stress and anger into my dancing. As much critique and correction I receive during class I know I am never being judged. My endorphins release and I can escape the real world for just a couple of hours.
I can't write about just one happy place because there is no one happy place for me. When I'm the happiest I am playing sports or just around people. When playing soccer, baseball, or basketball I am in such a happy place where I can forget about all of my troubles like school and grades and just focus on the task at hand. I love competition and I can just let go and be in my element when i step onto a field or court. Secondly, my other happy place is just with people I enjoy being around. whether it's my friends or someone I just met If I can just sit down, relax, and talk with someone I can slip away into a world with no pressure and time isn't a factor in anything. Being able to just stop everything and enjoy a conversation is something I love to do.
What is a “good place”? I believe a persons’ “good place” should be somewhere they can release all of their bottled emotions and thoughts and let their mind just slip away into the air. I am sure many people know me as loud and outgoing. But my “good place” is not a party or a get together with my friends. My place where I can release all of my thoughts are in my car driving. Driving is not the part that I love; it’s the music that I play in the car that sinks into my brain that allows me to forget everything and focus on the music. I love getting away from the noise and the stress that are included in my day, by just driving my car and allowing the lyrics of the song pour into my whole body. You might say, “Well why can’t you do this in your room?” When you have 5 other siblings in your house, it is hard to get away from any noise. My IPOD varies from Drake to Boys II Men to Rascal Flatts to Biggie or to Dave Matthews Band. I believe that music is the most powerful form of art and whether it is a rap or country song, there is a meaning to it. A “good place” needs to be your own place. Where you can think and have no one bother you. That is what my car and my music do for me.
My good place is somewhere not many people would think of. I am a member of the YMCA and I love to swim. Sometimes on a Sunday mornings or days off I like to go swim for a couple hours when not a lot of people are there. The best feeling is walking into the Bubble and no one being there but the lifeguards. You can have a whole lane to yourself, no coach yelling at you to go faster, and no annoying people touching your feet or going too slow. It’s even better when the water is warm! I start to swim laps in the peaceful quietness. There is no noise except my arms and feet hitting the water. I have time to clear my head of all the homework I need to do or how busy I will be in the upcoming week. I could stay there all day just swimming back and forth with no one there, just in silence. Once I get in my zone I become completely relaxed. After a few hours of clearing my mind I’m done my workout. When I’m finished I feel so calm and accomplished.
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