An Impromptu Road Trip

Since I lost both of my parents, I’ve been taking inventory of my life. They were so young, it makes me really want to live the best life that I can while I’m here.

I went to work against my better judgement, and it really hit me that I feel like I’m wasting my life there. I’m literally watching the clock hoping for hours of my life fly by. That realization, coupled with grief and stress set off an anxiety attack.

There was no way I could do my job effectively in the emotional state I was in, so I left and decided on a whim to drive two hours to Chattanooga. I put on my happy playlist and hit the road.

Once I got about an hour away from home, I wanted to turn around. I was tired of driving and I started thinking: Do you really need to drive all the way out there? Are you going to do something you can’t do in Atlanta? Then I silenced those thoughts. I figured I needed to complete this journey. I said I wanted to do it, so get it done.

I felt a sense of accomplishment when I finally made it. I had anxiety about driving for a while, so this two-hour trip was the longest I had ever driven. Now that I was there, what to do?

I stopped at the Tennessee welcome center and gathered a few brochures with the intent to visit Ruby Falls. I’ve been as a child, but I don't remember much about it. Eventually I decided on the Hunter Museum of American Art.

I had no energy to primp myself this morning, still with my work clothes on. Do I care? No.

My goal here was to just be in the moment. So often I’m (over)thinking about what’s next, what I could be doing, what I haven’t done. I wanted to silence all those thoughts. I wanted to absorb the art and the moment and allow my emotions to come and go.

I was tired by the end of the museum; I spent a good three hours there. Since it was chilly, I had a taste for coffee. I wanted to take in the scenery and vibes of my environment, so I decided to make the walk to Ice Cream Show.

I searched the hot drink menu and couldn’t decide what to get, so I asked the cashier to recommend something “if I like sweet coffee". Do I remember what I had? No, but it was great. Sweet, with body, possibly a latte? Regardless, it was right up my alley.

I can never go anywhere without trying something to eat that I can’t get at home, so I continued walking to a local taco shop, Agave & Rye (more about that in a later post).

It was about 5 by the time I finished eating, and I figured I needed to start making my way home before it gets dark. It was then that I regretted walking to my destinations, because now I had to make walk back with a stomach full of latte? and tacos.

The only thing I dreaded more than the walk back to my car was the two hour drive back home, racing against sunset, and racing is the correct word because I was BOOKING IT, do you hear me?

I made it home in good time, and I was so grateful that I decided to make that drive. My only regret was not planning it better so I could’ve stayed the night. That trip was so needed to unplug and unwind.

This is most definitely going to become a regular thing.