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I used to think money would solve all of my problems. If I could just buy the CD or shirt I wanted, then I would be happy. As I became more and more obsessed with buying myself objects to fulfill my heart's desires, I noticed that the adverse effect was happening; I was not very happy at all. This baffled me.

One day I was out for a drive and drove past a park. Having nothing else to do, I checked it out. As I stepped out of my Silver Toyota Tacoma, I noticed the beginning of a trail in the woods. Being the curious person that I am, I decided to partake in an adventure to discover where this trail led. With my first step into the path, I noticed dozens of beautiful flowers and intricate vine patterns weaving up the trees. I stared in awe. The adventure began. I walked down the winding path feeling a soft breeze on my face and listening to the birds sing. As I stepped around the last bend I was greeted by an exhilirating view of the St. John's River. By this time the sun was starting to set providing an even more intoxicating view. I sat and watched the sun set from the river bank catching glimpes of the dolphins that had swam upstream from the ocean jumping out of the water. At that moment I felt a calm wash over me. I finally started to feel happy.

I decided after this that I would take time away from my hectic life and visit the beach at sunrise. I got back in my little truck and drove all the way out to Atlantic Beach in Jacksonville, Florida. I parked the truck and stepped into the parking lot feeling the sudden chill of the Atlantic breeze. The sun was just beginning to rise. I kicked off my flip flops and walked down the pier to the ocean sand. There I sat and watched the sun rise over the luminescent blue ocean finding comfort in the silence around me. Then feeling of the waves lapping at my feet; the crashing of the waves in the shore. I was in my own personal heaven.

Three months later I met the love of my life. Standing 5'4" with beautiful blue eyes and curly brown hair, I went weak. I had known her for seven years. We finally arranged to meet up with each other. Now that moment had come. We spent the next couple days in each others arms sharing our love. I asked her to move in with me. It's been three months and I still feel that same spark I felt the moment our hands first touched. Each day is a new day that brings hope for me. A day filled with the best thing in life that costs nothing at all, love.

Between my adventure through the park and meeting my true love, I realized that the best things in life are not the things that money can buy you, but those things that are right in front of us that we so often miss. The beauty of a sunset, the wet kiss of a dog's tongue on your face, the smile of a loved one, and so many more that I await to discover each waking day.

Learn more about this author, Brittany Welch.
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