Maggie After Dark...
insights from being a creep.
Lately, my body has been craving outdoor time after dark sets in.
As a low-key sun goddess (thanks to my freckled Irish skin limiting my sun exposure), this shift in routine has sparked endless curiosity within me.
During my stroll to the beach last night, I dedicated some time to deciphering the allure of these nocturnal walks. My hypothesis might be flimsy, but I've gathered a few clues.
Fall nights, especially by the ocean, offer a sensory delight as the waves' soothing sounds harmonize and the scent of damp leaves lingers. The cold, crisp air provides a refreshing contrast to the summer humidity.
Yet, it's not just my senses of touch and smell that find satisfaction.
My imagination takes flight, wondering what’s high in the tree branches and catching glimpses into the lives of the people in my neighborhood. That’s right–I’m a creep.
Suddenly, the interiors of homes I've only seen from the street are unveiled, along with people's daily routines—watching Jeopardy or ‘Some Performance Activity’ with the Stars, cooking pasta, texting, doing homework.
Many of these vignettes echo familiar scenes from my parents' house—the evening news playing on repeat, followed by Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy in fall and winter, and the Red Sox in spring and summer. There was bickering, some nights more intense than others, yet almost always followed by a family dinner, free from the distraction of cellphones.
As these memories flooded back, a faint sense of nostalgia and longing stirred within me.
There was a time when I sought solace in the predictability of those scenes, because while the doing activities were routine, the beings doing them often weren't. I wondered if this was happening in the houses I passed—where someone was tuning into Double Jeopardy to drown out a tough day or seeking peace amid the tension.
However, the nostalgia swiftly dissipated because I no longer yearn for that life. The idea of someone accurately predicting my actions every night at 6:00 PM feels stifling. If my life became that habitual, how could I possibly continue to grow, and growth is what I desire—always.
Perhaps that's why I relish walking at night.
It's my version of rebellion.
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A chilly nighttime walk to the beach sounds like heaven. 🩷✨
Maggie, Growth is the key to life. D