jennifer-roberts Last month, I enjoyed one of the best weekends of my life. I cannot remember the last time I felt as free as I did and now that I’ve been back at home for several weeks, I am more determined than ever to figure out how I can experience more freedom in my daily life.
My weekend started with a 10:00 a.m. hike at Bull Run Mountain. The hike was organized by the Bull Run Mountain National Preserve (https://www.vof.org/protect/reserves/bull-run-mountains/) to educate participants about the historical African American presence on Bull Run Mountain. Cha ching! This was right up my alley. I am normally averse to participating in anything that resembles exercise, but I do enjoy walking. And I LOVE learning about the African American experience as a part of American history.
The hike was great. I learned about the community of free and enslaved African Americans who inhabited part of the mountain. The hike was scheduled for two hours but ended up lasting four hours. No complaints here. While hiking, I sent a text to my husband, “I have found my second tribe.” My heart was full as I shared time, space and interest with 40 other people who seemed to enjoy the experience as much as I did.
After I got home, showered, changed and packed a weekend bag, I was off to enjoy a “sister weekend” with my younger sister. I always look forward to hanging out with her, but our excursion was long overdue since we hadn’t had the opportunity to spend quality, dedicated time with each other in several years.
As we headed toward Alexandria, Virginia, I had no idea just how impacting and therapeutic the weekend would be.
First, we enjoyed a delicious, authentic Italian dinner at Portofino in Arlington (https://theportofinorestaurant.com/). After dinner we checked into our hotel which was a 12-minute drive away. We attempted to make a night-time icecream run but quickly changed our plans after discovering that there wasn’t a Coldstone Creamery (https://www.coldstonecreamery.com/) within walking distance. We dressed for bed and chatted for a while before drifting off to sleep.
On Sunday we enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Table Talk (https://www.tabletalkdiner.co/) which was close enough for us to walk from our hotel. The atmosphere was great, the company was incomparable, and the food left me satisfied.
After breakfast we walked a few blocks to a local African American Museum which unfortunately was closed for renovations. However, there was a statue and educational display of the Edmonson sisters that we enjoyed. We took selfies in front of the statue and increased our knowledge of American story by reading the Edmonson sisters story on the placard (https://www.alexandriava.gov/uploadedFiles/historic/info/archaeology/TrailSignEdmonsonSisters.pdf).
Across the street from the museum sat one of our favorite stores, Whole Foods (https://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores?utm_source=paidgoogle&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=Branding_HeadTerms_Brand&utm_content=paid_global&gclid=CjwKCAjwhOyJBhA4EiwAEcJdcdRMpOuQG8nqhyvHVXokANCHZxeKH-HZfUGgdophNeJCInmyRFe35RoCKloQAvD_BwE).
We enjoyed a leisurely stroll through this oasis, filling our cart with items that we didn’t need but were so fun to purchase. We must have spent at least 15 minutes just smelling candles. I felt so much freedom in being able to stand at the display, sniff and re-sniff as many candles as I wanted for as long as I wanted and then take my time deciding which ones I would purchase. My sister did the same. I felt no need to rush and there was no one rushing me. I could just be in the moment, and it was heavenly.
We meandered through the store finding our way to the bulk soap display, again taking our time deciding if we wanted avocado, coconut, lavender, peppermint, or cherry blossom soap. We decided on several bars to add to our cart.
Our casual stroll lasted over an hour, and it was blissful. After paying for our haul, we walked to the car to stow our bags and then headed to the Crate and Barrel Outlet Store which was across the street from our hotel. When we booked our hotel we didn’t know that our hotel was near any of these stores but we were so grateful that it was.
We browsed inside Crate and Barrel for only a few minutes because we were scheduled for a local history tour and needed to walk to the meeting spot which was a few blocks away.
I could have easily spent another 30 minutes in the store perusing the beautiful pieces and making a purchase of my own. I certainly didn’t “need” anything, but it was fun to think about swapping out my collection of coffee mugs for a fresh set of white Verge Latte Mugs (www.crateandbarrel.com). I envisioned myself enjoying my morning coffee with my hands wrapped around one of those mugs, but I didn’t make the decision to purchase quickly enough and ran out of time. My sister on the on the other hand was in the market for a casserole dish and quickly found one that suited her taste and needs. She paid for her dish and we left.
As we walked toward the Kate Barrett Library (https://alexlibraryva.org/barrett) where we would meet our tour guide, my sister and I enjoyed chatting about the houses we passed, our mother and life. The air was warm but not hot; it was the perfect day to be outside.
Our tour guide, Pamela Neal, of Manumission Tours (https://www.manumissiontours.com/) was there when we arrived and after brief introductions, we began what would become one of the best educational experiences I’ve ever had. My sister and I were the only two people on the tour which made our tour more personal. Pamela was friendly and knowledgeable, and our conversation flowed easily. She led the tour with ease and confidence, answering our questions and encouraging us to think about what motivated historical figures to act and react to the injustices and inhumanity surrounding the institution of slavery. Our tour was perfectly paced which allowed us to experience it with our eyes, our ears and our hearts.
Our tour ended on the bank of the Potomac River. Our souls had been nourished and it was time to nourish our bodies. We enjoyed a scrumptious lunch at the Fish Market (https://www.fishmarketva.com/) and then I had a generous scoop of mint chocolate chip icecream from a nearby Ben and Jerry’s. My sister and I snagged an outdoor seat where we chatted and people watched.
Someone was playing salsa as people danced and onlookers watched. We observed a mom with her baby enjoying each other’s company on a blanket nearby and a young family taking in the beautiful summer day enjoying each other’s company. There were pups on leashes enjoying walks amidst the patrons enjoying the opportunity to dine al fresco. I took it all in and tried to hold on to the feeling of freedom and eat my icecream before it melted in the August sun.
As my sister and I walked back to the car I savored each step not wanting the weekend to end. I felt like a child exiting the gates of Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
We strolled slowly taking in the sights and sounds of the sidewalks until the busyness of the crowd faded into the background. As we got in the car to drive home I asked myself the question, “How can I take the freedom that I feel home with me?”
And here I sit, weeks after returning home still thinking about how I can hold on to the feeling of freedom that I bathed in over the weekend. For days after my weekend, I tried to figure out what it was that allowed me to feel free.
I have settled on the truth that more than what I did, it was how I did it. I enjoyed simple pleasures that I love with someone who enjoyed them just as much as I did. I was able to move through my days unencumbered, untethered and unrushed by external mental, emotional or physical demands. I was able to truly unplug.
My daily challenge now is actively pursuing experiences in my daily life that allow me to be free, experiences that permit me to temporarily disengage. Maybe it’s as simple as enjoying a leisurely cup of coffee while reading a good book or going to lunch with my best friend or by myself. Or giving myself permission to take the day off to visit a museum or bookstore. I know that whatever I do I have to do it slowly so that I can genuinely enjoy myself. Whatever I choose to do, I now understand more than ever that I need to make pursuing and enjoying freedom in my everyday life a priority as I work to live my best life.
