Why We Drove Instead of Flew — The Magic of the Girl’s Road Trip
TikTok video from 2022-06-03
I wanted to answer a really reasonable (and surprisingly common) question I got this week
“Why didn’t you just fly to your college reunion?”
And I get it. Flying is faster. It’s often more convenient. Most people headed to the reunion took the easy route and hopped on a plane.
But not us. And here’s why.
This wasn’t just about getting from point A to point B. This was about reclaiming something sacred — the road trip with your best friend. The kind of trip where you talk for hours, scream-laugh at inside jokes from 20 years ago, eat gas station snacks like they’re gourmet, and cry a little when a certain song hits just right.
My best friend and I have a deep history, and road trips are part of our shared language. We did it back in college — drove through state lines with way too much luggage and not enough sleep, but all the freedom in the world. One of those trips, in particular, my senior year, was pure magic. It left a mark. And this time, we wanted to tap back into that energy.
Another big factor? Flying isn’t super easy for her. It can be uncomfortable, physically and mentally. So instead of pushing through discomfort, we created an experience that honored her needs and allowed us both to enjoy the journey. That's what you do when you love someone — you find the path that works for both of you.
So I flew to North Carolina to meet her, and we hit the road together. We stopped off to stay at my boyfriend’s house in Indy — he was the most gracious host — and then we made the final push to campus.
When was the last time you had uninterrupted hours with your best friend? No phones, no distractions, no timelines other than your own?
That’s what this trip gave us. We laughed. We processed life. We dreamed about the future. We remembered who we were back when we first met — and honored who we’ve become since. We were messy, real, and fully present.
That doesn’t happen in an airport terminal.
By the time we arrived on campus, we were grounded, open, and ready to connect — not just with others, but with ourselves. That’s the difference a road trip makes. It’s not just about where you’re going. It’s about who you are when you get there.
So yes, flying might’ve been faster. But slower gave us the deeper experience.
And honestly, in a world that moves too fast, I’ll take slow and meaningful any day.
