THE END OF A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY
The last day of the beach holiday had arrived. A moment none of them really wanted to think about, but the beauty of the sunrise rising on the horizon comforted them. They had spent the summer outdoors, away from the screens of their
smartphones, discovering the pleasure of living every moment of their days together to the fullest.
That morning, they woke up early, golden light filtering through the curtains of their room. It was as if the sun wanted to give them one last show of splendour before leaving. With sleepy eyes, they looked out the window of their small house, located right across the street from the beach. The sky was a painting of warm hues, with yellows and pinks blending gently. The first light of day caressed the sea, making it sparkle like thousands of diamonds.
At that moment, the world seemed to stop, as if it wanted to allow them to savor the last magic of summer. The sound of the waves, a constant accompaniment during their summer adventures, was a reassuring harmony. An aurora that would warm their hearts in the days to come, when they would be far from the beach and the laughter they shared.
Potty, the faithful dog who had lived every adventure with them, stretched out by the bedside, as if he knew that this day would be very special.
They decided to start the day with a walk along the shoreline, as a tribute to the nature they had come to love and appreciate so deeply.
As they walked on the sand, collecting shells and looking at the horizon, they knew that even though the holidays were coming to an end, the memories they had created would forever be etched in their minds and hearts.
1: A Day of Farewells and Memories
After the walk, they returned to their cottage and prepared a special breakfast, with fresh fruit, freshly baked bread, and jam.
They decided to spend the whole day at the lido, recreating their favorite activities: building sandcastles, swimming in the water, and running along the shore.
Potty followed them everywhere, barking with joy as he enjoyed the sand and the sea. He had become an integral part of their group.
In the afternoon, the guys decided to throw a big party on the beach as a farewell to the holidays. They invited all the friends they had known and frequented during the summer, including those at the concert. There were games, music, and food for everyone, and the atmosphere was cheerful and festive.
2: An unforgettable sunset
As the sun slowly began its path towards the horizon, casting shades of orange and red on the evening sky, they all gathered together on the soft sand of the beach. It was the most awaited moment of the day: the sunset over the sea. They lay down in a circle, their faces illuminated by the golden light dancing on the water.
Chiara exclaimed enthusiastically: "Look how beautiful it is! This sunset is truly unforgettable."
Everyone agreed, their eyes fixed on the horizon. The waves of the sea crashed gently on the shore, creating a perfect soundtrack for the show that was about to unfold.
Martina put her guitar down next to her and said, "I never thought a summer without technology could be so special."
Giulia nodded, adding, "It's amazing how much we can enjoy the simple things when we're surrounded by good friends."
Carola, who always had a ready smile, looked at Potty and said, "Even he seems to enjoy all of this."
The sky was transformed, going from shades of gold and red to shades of purple and blue. It was a time of calm and contemplation, an experience shared between friends who had learned to appreciate the beauty of nature and each other's company.
Carola, with her love for poetry, took the floor: "In this moment, I feel that the sea and the sky merge, and we are part of this wonderful universe."
Giulia, the dreamer of the group, closed her eyes for a moment and said, "I think we will keep this moment in our memory for a long time. It's like a gift from nature to us."
The sunset continued to paint the sky with more and more striking colors, and as the sun retreated to the horizon, bringing with it the warmth of the day, the guys and their friends knew that this moment would remain etched in their hearts forever.
3: The "Diary of the Bicycle That Pulled the Plug"
After the sun went down, they decided to meet for the last time in the little house on the beach to discuss an idea they had had. Chiara, with her contagious enthusiasm, had presented the exciting proposal to create a diary of their unforgettable summer adventures. Her goal was clear: to explain to their peers how to detach themselves from the ubiquity of digital tools. She wanted to describe to everyone, how the joys of life in the open air and the distance from screens could enrich their existence, filling it with memorable moments and authentic relationships.
As they pondered and advised each other on what and how to write this diary, the dilemma of finding a suitable title for their masterpiece began to tickle their creativity. Sitting under a large tree, surrounded by the beauty of nature, the guys discussed and laughed as they searched for the perfect name.
Martina suggested "Under the Summer Sky" because she wanted to capture the magic of their adventures outdoors, under the starry sky or the bright sun. Salvo, with a radiant smile, proposed "The World Beyond the Screen", reflecting on their discovery of how exciting the real world could be outside of mobile phones and tablets. Giulia, with her passion for nature, proposed "Between the Waves and the Woods" to emphasize the explorations along the coast and in the wooded paths.
Chiara, who had given the original idea for the diary, offered "The Bicycle That Pulled the Plug on Us" as the title. She wanted to emphasize how their bike adventures had literally disconnected them from their digital devices, allowing them to fully immerse themselves in real life.
Finally, Carola proposed "Our Treasure of Summer Memories", emphasizing that the shared experiences and the bonds they had formed were the real treasure accumulated during the summer.
After a fun and passionate discussion, they decided to combine their ideas into a single title: "The bicycle that unplugged us - Our Treasure of Summer Memories". It was a perfect name for their journal that exceptionally reflected their adventures and lessons learned. The cover of the diary would be decorated with the drawings and signatures of each friend, a tangible symbol of their priceless summer bond.
Martina suggested that they also include maps of the places they had explored and the routes they had cycled.
Carola, with her passion for online tutorials, proposed to create a section dedicated to tips on how to enjoy the outdoors without the addiction to smartphones. Salvo, who had shown
surprising creativity during their adventures, offered to decorate the diary with his illustrations.
Giulia, with her love for dance, decided to include some pages with the choreographies they had created together on the beach at sunset. Each had their own unique contribution to make, and this diary would be the tangible testimony of their summer experiences.
Once the planning was done, the boys began to write. They recounted their cycling adventures along the coast, discoveries in secret caves, spectacular sunsets on the beach, and evenings spent playing guitar around the campfire.
Each page was filled with emotion, laughter, and moments of reflection. They realized that writing down their experiences and sharing them with virtual friends was a different but equally meaningful way to connect with others. They had learned that you didn't have to be online all the time to appreciate the wonder of life.
When they finally finished, they looked at each other with satisfaction.
Now they were ready to tell their stories to the world, aware that real life had much more to offer than virtual life. It had been an unforgettable summer, and their diary would be an everlasting testimony to it.
As they closed the door to their tiny home near the beach for the last time, they knew they would carry those memories with them forever, ready to take on new adventures and challenges.
At that point the boys and their friends hugged each other and said goodbye with promises to stay in touch and come back the following year. They knew this was a special vacation they would remember for a lifetime.
4: The Holiday Lesson
The return to their own cities brought with it a feeling of sadness and reflection for the young people. Days spent cycling along the coast, laughing with friends, and discovering a world without technology had become an integral part of their deepest and most precious experiences.
But in addition to longing, the kids brought with them a whole new perspective on the digital world. As soon as their parents gave them back their smartphones, they noticed a change in their own attitudes. They had become more aware of the use of these tools and their limitations.
Instead of spending entire days glued to screens, young people began to use devices more sparingly, they had decided in unison to devote only one hour a day to them and no longer all their free time. They began telling stories of their summer adventures on social media not to seek validation or appreciation, but to share the beauty of the real world they had all discovered together.
The friendships they had made during their beach vacations continued to flourish. They exchanged email addresses and phone numbers to stay in touch, but now they preferred to meet in person, ride bikes, explore parks and beaches, and go hiking. Their human connections had become far more meaningful and rewarding than cold, impersonal virtual interactions.
The valuable lesson learned was that life is enormously enriched when lived outdoors, surrounded by friends, rather than behind a screen. They realized that the real world offers an innumerable array of emotions and the ability to create memories that will last forever.
They had learned to handle the empty moments of the day without getting bored, gaining valuable skills in the process of developing their imagination. This experience had taught them to harness their creativity and imagination at times when in the past they would have relied on technology to combat boredom. Instead of passively scrolling through bright screens, they learned how to actively create their own entertainment.
Inventing challenges had become an exciting pastime. These activities had stimulated their intellects and pushed them to come up with ingenious solutions to problems, finding that the process of creating games not only entertained them but also made them grow in terms of critical thinking.
They had been able to open their minds to new life scenarios. By spending time outdoors and interacting with nature, they had learned to appreciate and respect their surroundings more deeply. These experiences piqued their curiosity and made them more aware of the world around them.
In addition, they had managed to expand their connections with others. Away from digital devices, they had created opportunities for themselves to establish more meaningful relationships with their peers. They had learned to communicate more authentically, to resolve conflicts without the impersonal filter of the screen, and to live and enjoy concrete experiences.
By substituting physical friends for digital ones, they discovered the value of face-to-face human relationships. These bonds had become more precious and meaningful, as they were based on the sharing of real and physical moments, made up of looks, smiles, hugs and not just virtual interactions through texts, messages, video calls or online chats.
In summary, managing boredom creatively had enriched their lives, broadened their perspectives, and strengthened their relationships.
The "unplugged" holiday had taught them the importance of finding a balance between the digital and real worlds, and that technology could be a useful tool, but that it could never replace the joys of friendship, adventure and discovery in everyday life.