Self-Expression – Voices 41

Most people talk about an activity that has special significance for self-expression. For me, it’s a place. It’s a small cliff overlooking a beautiful waterfall near where I live in western Vermont.

Hearing the rush of the passing river, the sun on my neck and the forest behind me. I feel like I’m the last person on Earth.

I’ve done all sorts of creative projects sitting on those rocks.

I’ve painstakingly hauled a canvas and paints and tried to recreate the scenic beauty. I’ve poured out my feelings into a personal journal of poetry. I’ve read entire books in a single sitting.

It’s a spot that I hold very dearly, somewhere I can express myself far away from the distractions and responsibilities of my daily life.

One of my favorite times to visit the cliff is on a warm summer night. From there, you can see the clear Vermont sky perfectly, and the constellations are as incredibly vivid. I get a unique kind of inspiration from moments like this, when it’s so quiet and only the sound of the rushing water can be heard.

I feel like as I get older and get more experience in life, the spot is going to take on different meaning for me. It may become a place where I ruminate on different love interests, where I contemplate my future career, where I ponder my deepest questions about myself.

Regardless, I know I can always come back to it, even if I move away from Vermont in the next few years. While I’m sure there are other spots like it all throughout the country, this one has a special significance for me.

It feels like a part of me, and so it’ll be difficult to eventually leave it behind. Until then, I’m going to enjoy its beauty and continue to grow as a person while sitting there.