Escaping to embrace

Why leaving was best

I’ve been in a daydream and nightmare at the same time.

Just like how trees pass your window at lightning speed on a fast-moving train, I have hardly had time to process the last 6 months.

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As I mused to my personal friends and family:

I’m so incredibly grateful for this year. I have experienced how two things can be true at once. Some of my wildest dreams have materialised in my career, personal life and relationships, and at the same time, I’ve had some really hard experiences across the same areas.

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During the pandemic, I fell in love with tiny house living and the stories of individuals and couples who decided to move off-grid and live closer to nature.

I think what I really fell in love with was escaping. Leaving the mainstream path that can feel relentless and unforgiving.

Leaving it all behind to embrace the openness and connection that simple living brings.

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Under South Africa’s early Spring sun, I had in a way left it all behind. “It” being the emails, the unopened texts, the unfinished conversations, the meetings, and some of the jobs (because I have often worked multiple at one time).

I wanted to escape in order to embrace my true heart’s desires and to be in a new environment with new people with a new focus.

I think leaving things behind in situ (a phrase reminiscent of my high school Ancient History class) is necessary.

You can’t fully embrace the new when you are enmeshed with what you left behind.

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Like the pages of a good non-fiction book, you must allow yourself to embrace a new world, with new characters, with new plot lines.

I vowed to put down the self-development books and pick up the fantasy ones.

Do you ever feel more closer to yourself when you engage in hobbies that offer a sense of escapism?

Reading, travelling, walking, crafting, watching sentimental movies or riveting shows, late night conversations with a loved one about your hopes and dreams, spontaneous adventures.

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I was in South Africa for an important summit, where I needed to embrace the entire program every minute of the day. There was no room to check-in with my life in Australia. Because there was simply no emotional or mental capacity for that.

We as delegates from around the globe had late nights, early starts, and were in constant communication with each other. As a person with reclusive tendencies, this both sucked the life out of me but also gave me the same life back, but with more vigour.

After months of working up to this moment (honestly years because this journey started long ago), I had to escape life as usual and embrace a fleeting moment in history.

Leaving for this summit was non-negotiable so it’s not like I really had a choice in the matter, however, the way I fully immersed myself in that experience was my choice.

Leaving wholly was best.

I ensured my attention was not divided and my vision was clear.

My vision set on the Continent of Africa.

And I can’t wait to greet her shores once more.