Is this what it feels like to truly be alive?

My wet sandals squeak with each stride as I trail behind my friends. Trying to keep up I quickly bend down to carry them in my hands. The denim tote bag over my shoulder slides down my arm in front of me, loosening my floral pastel yellow hair sash tied to the handle. Retightening the knot, the oceanic view that seems to be on top of the world stops my movement as I come up grabbing my shoes. Eighty feet below me waves as tall as city buildings crash into the jagged multicolor rocks, reminding me how effortlessly dangerous nature truly is. My eyes follow the scenic landscape of dense green mountains and fog in the distance to the deep aqua teal hues with great white peaks, reminding me of mountains, yet violently traveling in and out uniquely ever-changing.

I spot the group’s bright colored t-shirts speckled in the distance and turn to catch up, now faster on foot. Walking near them again I say nothing while they continue to chat, distracted by the elegant ways of nature which has left my thoughts speechless. We turn the furthest rock formation corner to reveal another stretch of the unearthly looking coastline.

Beside us is a vast area of alien looking grey lava rocks. We are the only people in a mile’s radius. The roaring waves are higher here now, crashing below the ledge of the rocky cliff and splashing on my bare feet, only steps from the edge. With the wind, light water sprays up into the air above my head and on to my friends. They laugh in awe commenting on the extraordinary as two of my friends take off their shirts.

As more waves pour over the side of our secret expansive paradise, our excitement for this life increases. My friends quickly begin to dance around with each wave spraying more mist on our bodies, almost cleansing us. I take more steps closer to join in on the inspirational moment. My mind races with over stimulation as I try to focus on one sense at a time. Never-ending waves crash and crash, constant mist shimmering through the air. They are so loud, violent, and beautiful. A hand from my friend grabs and shakes my wet shoulders in mutual excitement. I nod and laugh in awe catching a taste of saltwater on my bottom lip; my cheeks start to become sore from smiling.

I toss my hands up in the air and start to twirl around, internalizing the electrifying feeling of the environment around me. Highly pitched I scream “Waaaahhhhhooooooooooo!” following my friends’ random shouts. My denim tote swings around me while my sheer pastel yellow hair sash flies in the breeze. Between the quickly moving mist I see the sheer sparkles of a rainbow travelling with the ways of the wind in front of my eyes and all I can think to myself is – Is this what it feels like to truly be alive?