Ever since the magnolias blossomed in mid-April, it feels like the city of Boston awoke from a long slumber. Every Bluebike was gone, boats floated along the Charles River and picnic blankets filled every pocket of grass.
One afternoon, I was sitting by the Charles River Esplanade and it reminded me of Seurat’s post-impressionist painting, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.”
All of a sudden, it seems that everyone is enjoying the sun and warmer temperatures. I can probably guess the temperature by how many people are lounging on COM Lawn or BU Beach. I like seeing everyone outside — except when I can’t find a place to sit myself, of course.
Frolicking has become my favorite word recently, and I believe it’s important to go frolicking every once in a while.
The way that I define frolicking is to explore the area that you live in with no destination or route, and just appreciate the beauty of it.
The idea of frolicking is the ideal image of every girl’s dream: To bound across an open flower field in a large, flowy dress. But it can be simpler than that — it can be a mere walk or bike ride around town.
There are many things to do while frolicking that can help you appreciate natural beauty, like photography, sketching, people-watching, bird-watching and sun-bathing — just to name a few.
Where I’m from in the suburbs, it is rare to see people frolicking outside. It is abnormal to go outside except for parks — which are only accessible by car.
Walking anywhere means being next to noisy highways or desolate strip mall parking lots — which are less than ideal frolicking conditions.
Being in a walkable city like Boston makes frolicking easier. Most places have marked pedestrian crosswalks and sidewalks lead to anywhere you need to go.
I like to say that I’m a local, but seeing Boston through the eyes of a tourist reminds me to “stop and smell the roses.” I find myself reading the plaques on the statues I always pass by and snapping a photo of anything I find picturesque.
Being in an urban landscape can mean that it can be harder to escape to a quiet place in nature. My go-to serene places are the Fenway Gardens, the Charles River Esplanade or the Boston Public Garden.
But there’s still a certain charm in the complex, busy world of a big city that’s interesting to observe. Every block has something interesting to notice. Boston has a rich history in its architecture, so there’s always a random unique-looking building. A crowd gathering for an event that I didn’t know was happening, can pop up on any corner.
Spontaneity is also an important aspect of frolicking. It’s freeing not to have any destination, and just head onward in a general direction.
Not having a set plan makes you feel more comfortable with the feeling of uncertainty, and the knowledge that whatever happens, you’re going to be okay.
Lately, I’ve ditched Google Maps, and started taking the T less. Instead, I’ve started to opt for walking everywhere — even if it meant walking for an absurdly long amount of time. I understand how impractical this is on a daily basis, but it’s nice every so often when I don’t have any plans.
Without a set route, I built my own internal map and discovered a lot of new places that I normally would’ve missed if I had searched it on Google Maps or been near a T-stop.
One of my favorite spots that I stumbled upon was at a wharf, where those tourist binoculars let you view the ships and planes that pass through the Boston Harbor.
Frolicking helped me feel more relaxed when I have a lot on my mind or when I am swamped with assignments.
My mood almost instantly feels better after stepping outside and appreciating the springtime beauty after months of dreary weather. It’s so important to focus inward on your own self and practice mindfulness.
Especially now that finals are approaching, it’s good to take time for yourself, slow down and reset your mind. Step outside the library for a moment to have clarity — you’ll be sure to return refreshed and prepared to ace your final exams.
