The radiant rays of dawn emerge to warm her bronzed skin. She rises from the forest floor and out of her faded, tattered blankets. She finds her way to the creek bed to wash off her body and goes inside to enjoy the berries she picked the previous afternoon. Her log home is quaint with a mere two rooms. It stands alone, engulfed by dense, towering trees. She especially loves her home because of the large window filling one side. Her name is Blu. She returns to the creek side, lays out her mat, and her typical yoga routine unravels. Today, Blu concentrates on the music of the soft, traveling water that continues to trickle pass her. She notices how it leaps happily over the jutting limestone rocks. Once she has finished, she decides to photograph the leave’s shifting vibrancy as the season of fall surfaces. Her camera is certainly one of her favorite possessions. Blu carries it with her nearly everywhere. She loves to show others the story of her travel through the photos she has snapped. They display a range of lands from Georgia to Oklahoma. She has dreamed of a life in California for years, hence why she began her journey of independence in such direction. Even as a young child she felt as if she did not belong in the suburb that constrained her. Her soul craved a unity with the life of our Earth before she could even comprehend something was missing. Although she has grown to make her body the only home she needs, she still desires to feel the open minded and kind-hearted culture of California. The view of it’s sandy beaches and wooded mountains and the vibrations of the people are upon the horizon, for many of those populating the town are riding in a bus to the very state tomorrow morning. This trip is for a concert. Yet not just any, it has been claimed as the revolution of Woodstock. The concert was organized as an outrage towards the governments rising attempt to gain a “mass control.” It shall again be three days of peace and music. Flooded with exhilaration, Blu decides to head into the market to pick up anything she may desire for the trip and to sell her remaining bundle of berries. She grabs her backpack and walks along her worn, dirt path, winding throughout wide and staggering trunks. Their prosperous roots are greatly hidden, deeply embedded amongst the soil beneath her feet; it leaves these trunks stiff in the vigorous breeze. Yet as she glances upward, her smile amplifies at the playful demeanor of the feeble branches dancing in the currents of the wind. As she arrives in the town, Blu starts a casual conversation with a friend and fellow vendor. This friend realizes she has a newly crafted dress that Blu would certainly adore. Her friend pulls it off her rack and notices how Blu’s eyes instantaneously widen, brightened by adulation. Blu admires it’s elongated, flowing shape along with it’s array of colors and embroidered depictions of nature’s features. The back displayed a recreation of the sun and moon, while verdant, simplistic stems rose from the dress’ final hem. She hastily offers to trade her basket of fruits for the beloved item, in which her friend happily consents. Blu is ever so elated to have such a lovely dress to wear tomorrow and decides to pick it up from the stand on her returning route so it cannot grow wrinkled or blemished. At another nearby vendor, she stops and purchases two beads to put around a couple of her lengthy, dark blonde dreads. Blu always enjoys to pick up a few memoirs from each place she has stayed. She then whips her longboard out of the bag on her back and cruises along down the street, coasting by all the little shops and markets with tree limbs drooping overhead. Blu frequently pauses to grab her camera and take her final pictures of the kind, modest town. Unlike the majority of those joining her on the voyage tomorrow, she shall not be returning here. She finds herself now at the lakeside, her usual destination. Of course she then wanders about, leaning, crouching, snapping only a couple more photos. Although even without her pictures this place surrounding her shall undoubtedly hold an eternal memory and appreciation. Here along this soothing yet spirited bank, Blu has created paintings of the very view. All throughout this area she has composed incredible artwork and writings. Amidst this region she has obtained a deeper wisdom and kindness as well as happiness has expanded among her soul. Here Blu has unveiled more of her radiant and warming colors and continued to blossom into her purest, richest beauty. Along this loam she has been submerged with curiosity and learned the hearts of it’s people. This nurturing land has become a vital fragment in the assembly of her impending masterpiece of self-love, and so Blu decides to write one final passage before her departure. Within her journal she clarifies her thoughts and engraves, “I can only hope that my spirit of youth never diminishes. I desire to always become vastly flooded with emotions as wholeheartedly as I currently do, even though it is often dangerous. I hope my spirit never ceases to become aroused as I wander in the magnificence of intricate nature. I hold on to the belief that I shall always feel joy due to the simplistic aspects I will continue to value. May I always never fear the judgments of other beings and forever obtain an open minded perspective myself. I desire to continually seek the beauty in every soul and strive to see happiness expressed on the faces of other’s. I hope that I take care of our Earth and is differentiating creatures and forms of life. Above all, I hope the love for all things that fills my heart endures forever. I want to always find peace in simply playing in the phases of the weather and going on adventures. I want my mind to never conclude wondering about the mysteries of our existence and growing in wisdom and knowledge. Lastly, may the glimmer of optimism and compassion in my eyes never fade. I suppose I am beginning to appreciate and become fond of a few of the aspects that make up my soul, and I am finally starting to flourish into who I am destined to be. For never before have I feared losing who I have grown to know as my true self; perhaps this is because previously I was lost in a dark crease of my mind, and now I am beginning to be found. Although this is a fear, it is oddly comforting. It feels as though I have broken through a once engulfing shell of decay and felt the warmth of the sun’s rays and air fill my lungs for the first time, and how very rejuvenating it is. I am more than what once imprisoned me, for that is now shreds I can no longer see; I am alive, I am free. I feel as light as a feather; I can float anywhere I please.” Once Blu releases her current state of mind, she begins to gather her belongings and ride towards her home. She stops among the street side at her favorite sandwich shop for an early dinner and orders her favorite: a chicken salad wrap with a green tea. Then she proceeds, picks up her vibrant, new dress of course, and strolls down her dusty trail once again. Now within her house she hurriedly packs every slight belonging. Last to go in her duffle bag is her journal, artwork, ukulele, assortment of rocks, candles and incense holders. Exhausted from the day’s strenuous activities, Blu cleanses herself in the dribbling water which is wounding gently about the Earth’s surface. Chords of pale light spear down from the incandescent sky, bathing its surface in a pearly glow. She then recollects something her dearest friend had once told her, “Streams are the glistening souls of the forest.” Oh how she misses her Delilah. Blu finally lays out her usual, ragged blankets and admires this luminous source, our crescent moon. She drifts into a profound slumber while the chirping and croaking of unseen, mystic, nocturnal creatures drowns her mind. She awakes in correlation with the first poking gleams of the golden sun. Blu throws on her cherished dress, clenches her bags, and walks up into the town. Here she meets with her fellow travelers and finds them sharing coffee. Before loading up the bus, they all decorate one another with a lively series of paints and even add a few drawings using spray-paint to the collection scattering the bus’ exterior. Once moving upon the road set out with the destination of California, the concert goers sing a few songs together and share fascinating stories with eyes sparkling of anticipation. As Blu arrives and her barren feet stroke the lush tips of California grass, she is nearly left speechless. She realizes how immensely proud she is of her own self for battling through such agony yet making it to breathe in this astonishing view she once desperately earned for. The concert starts to unfold and she is surrounded by souls she simply could not find more beautiful. As she dances and spins about to the rhythm of the music, Blu believes she cannot hold any superior joy. Yet just then someone taps her shoulder from behind and she turns to see none other than her utmost friend, Delilah. Blu quickly grasps her and holds Delilah tight as a tear of overwhelming delight flows peaceful down a warm cheek. They immediately reconnect as if no time passed miles apart. Each proclaim how much they have longed for the others presence and sound of their voice. This is certainly the greatest moment of Blu’s life, and both are so eager to see what the approaching days are holding. Together they have so much to hear about one another’s adventures, growth, and experiences. Together they are flooded with happiness, and together their futures hold peaceful, incredible journeys just waiting to be fulfilled.