Open Road, Open Chest

The road stretched ahead with no rush to the end, trees lining the way like quiet witnesses. Time spent outdoors during leisure outings has been linked to increased motivation and reduced stress by restoring mental focus and emotional balance (Hartig et al. 210).

She rolled the window down, letting fresh air move through the car, feeling lighter with every mile. Research also shows that experiences of perceived freedom, such as unstructured travel or time in open spaces, are associated with higher life satisfaction and intrinsic motivation (Ryan and Deci 74). The outing did not change her destination. It changed how she felt moving toward it.

Works Cited (MLA)

Hartig, Terry, et al. “Nature and Health.” Annual Review of Public Health, vol. 35, 2014, pp. 207–228.
Ryan, Richard M., and Edward L. Deci. Intrinsic Motivation and Self-etermination in Human Behavior. Springer, 1985.