A Simple Little Kind of Free

"Nothing to do, nowhere to be, a simple little kind of free." This phrase, coined by lyrics of a John Mayer song, obviously, represents to me the perfect feeling that we all strive for in our busy lives. The days that we get once at year (if we're lucky) on spring breaks, holidays, or even just a lazy Sunday. But how is it possible to have a day of nothing with so many distractions? Can you honestly turn your phone off for 24 miserable hours? Or put your computer away in its case and never bring it out? Not to be harsh but people often sound like hypocrites when they say they strive for a relaxing break from the real world. Every vacation I've ever been on, the wife or husband has his or her Bluetooth in their ear and the children have iPods or Gameboys in their hands. In other words, if we always strive for "a simple little kind of free," why do we never give ourselves a chance to achieve it?

The actual meaning of the phrase, "nothing to do, nowhere..." in the song, "Perfectly Lonely," is John Mayer going on and on about how he is perfectly fine being lonely. Although I wonder is he perfectly fine with being lonely? If everyone thought like John Mayer, marriage would not exist and love would be an urban myth. Without realizing it, it is perfectly natural for us to flock to other people for comfort and attention. The picture, in the famous movie, The Notebook, possesses the perfect balance of the two. The balance of a peaceful, relaxing day and being in the presence of another person. As the ducks prove, we travel in flocks. No one wants to be sad alone and no one wants to travel alone. Although a huge supporter of doing one's own thing and having time for yourself, the time you surround yourself with others just doesn't even compare. Being alone may balance out yourself, but to really achieve "a simple little kind of free," I believe that you need to be free with others as well. It's just natural to flock to other people, especially when you feel free with yourself. Basically I'll just leave it up to a heartbroken, bitter singer to be the only one to support being alone. Because quite frankly I'd hate to wade the rough waters without my flock.