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Everyone has felt that urge to up and run, at least once. Summer 2018, I acted on that urge. I packed up a backpack and set off on a 20 hour road trip from Kansas City to Camden, Maine. I drove and drove, stopping at shitty motels and hole-in-the-wall diners along the way. The second I entered Camden, a weight lifted from my shoulders. Here I was, alone in a state where I knew absolutely no one. And it was liberating. I stopped at a mom and pop breakfast diner and asked the owner if she could tell me a little bit about the area. She obliged with great passion - telling me about the history, the restaurants, and the people. She mentioned her daughter runs a bed and breakfast just down the street and offered to make me a reservation. Her daughter greeted me with a small hug and more information about the area, like the bars I was able to go dancing at. That night, she knocked on my door at exactly 6:00 and invited me out dancing with her friends. After quickly getting ready, we were out the door. The town kind of transforms at night, the sky lights up with stars in colors I’d never seen before. And every little shop is graced with a neon sign. We danced the night away and planned out some activities for the following day. The schedule began at 9:00 a.m. - Acadia National Park. We drove there in Krista’s, the B&B owner, jeep and sang along to every song on the radio, even if we didn’t know the words. We entered the Acadia grounds and all the air escaped my lungs. Before me was the single most beautiful place I had ever seen. We hiked up and down, sat over the edge of cliffs, swam in the cool ocean, and ate sandwiches on the beach. Day quickly fell to night and the energy shifted. Once loud laughing voices were now hushed whispers. Any light, whether it be car or phone, was turned off or dimmed to the lowest setting. I watched the sky light up, star by star, one by one - and suddenly I was an astronaut in space. The lack of light pollution allowed for the Milky Way to shine. I never wanted to leave but, alas, my new friends dragged me away. That night I slept like a baby, knowing I was just a small piece of a glorious image. I spent the next week in that town, with those same people - we never ran out of things to do. If ever you need to get away, just up and run for a little while. Do it. Life will follow you. You will meet people, experience new things, and you’ll come home liberated.