Sometimes you don’t need a week-long vacation to reset. Sometimes you just need a full tank of gas, a good playlist, two hours on the road and a reason to get away.
That’s exactly what I needed for the Fourth of July.
Instead of spending the holiday at home, I decided to take a quick trip to Nashville. It was only about a two-hour drive, which made it the perfect little getaway without requiring a flight, a hotel or a complicated itinerary. I wasn’t looking for anything extravagant. I simply wanted a change of scenery, a little time to myself and the opportunity to enjoy the holiday somewhere different.
Honestly, sometimes those are the best kinds of trips.
As a lover of museums, culture and history, I knew one of my first stops had to be the National Museum of African American Music. The museum is dedicated to preserving and celebrating the legacies of the many music genres created or inspired by African Americans, and I knew it would be right up my alley.
Walking through the museum was more than just something to do while I was in Nashville. It was an opportunity to learn, reflect and celebrate how far our culture and music have come. Music has always been deeply connected to African American history, creativity and expression, and being surrounded by so much history in one place was a reminder of just how significant our contributions have been.
As a writer and educator, I genuinely believe experiences like visiting museums are important. They expand my intellect and give me opportunities to step outside of what I already know. There’s something about seeing history presented in a way that allows you to engage with it visually and emotionally. You leave with more than pictures. You leave with something to think about.
Of course, I took plenty of pictures and videos because I am absolutely the person who wants to remember the experience later. I wanted to capture the things that caught my attention, the moments that made me stop and look a little longer and the overall feeling of being somewhere that celebrated so much of our history.
After spending time at the museum, I grabbed something to eat before leaving downtown. Nashville was already buzzing with people preparing for the Fourth of July festivities, including a free concert downtown. The energy was definitely there, but so were the crowds.
And when I saw just how many people were gathering, I had a moment where I thought, Yeah… I want to be apart of this …but this isn’t my ministry today.
I love a good concert and I love being around people, but I also know when I would rather enjoy myself without fighting through a massive crowd when I’m not alone. One of the best things about taking a day trip is having the freedom to change your plans whenever you want.
So I did what any girl who knows herself would do.
I left and about 20 minutes later, I found myself at Green Hills Mall.
And yes, I went shopping. It was always apart of the plan, but technically, shopping wasn’t the original purpose of my Nashville trip. But once I was already there, I figured I might as well enjoy myself. I made my way into Kate Spade and purchased a handbag and perfume, then stopped by Swarovski and found a necklace I loved.
What made those purchases feel different wasn’t necessarily what I bought. It was what they represented.
What I hadn’t mentioned was that I had just gotten my own column.
That made this little Nashville getaway feel even more significant. I wasn’t simply taking myself out of town for the Fourth of July. I was celebrating a new chapter in my career.
As a writer, journalist and educator, I spend a lot of time thinking about what’s next. What’s the next story? What’s the next opportunity? What’s the next project? What’s the next goal?
Sometimes we become so focused on what’s next that we forget to stop and acknowledge what we’ve already accomplished.
Getting my own column was something worth celebrating.
So I decided to celebrate myself.
And yes, that meant a handbag, perfume, a necklace, but more than anything, it meant allowing myself to acknowledge that I had worked hard and something I wanted had finally happened.
I think we should get better at celebrating ourselves without feeling like we need permission.
It doesn’t always have to be a huge party or an elaborate vacation. Sometimes celebrating yourself looks like taking yourself on a day trip. Sometimes it’s buying something you’ve had your eye on. Sometimes it’s sitting in a museum and being reminded of the creativity and history that inspire you. Sometimes it’s simply taking a moment to say, I’m proud of myself.
For me, that was this trip.
By the time I headed back home, I had taken more pictures than I probably needed, recorded enough videos to fill my camera roll and experienced a little bit of everything I love: culture, history, food, shopping and time to myself.
Maybe that’s why this quick trip felt like more than just a Fourth of July getaway.
It reminded me that you don’t always need a major vacation to feel refreshed. Sometimes you just need to change your scenery, get in the car and give yourself permission to enjoy your own company.
Two hours away from home gave me a day filled with music history, culture, shopping and a reminder that I’m entering a new chapter in my career.
If I’m being honest, I think the handbag was the perfect souvenir, not just because it was cute, but because every time I carry it, I’ll remember that I bought it while celebrating myself.
