Modern Day Escapism
We are honestly all exhausted. This year is exceptional because it will forever be a monument to everyone who experienced a pandemic. Personally, I’ve never experienced so many emotions nor felt so uncertain. In fact, I still don’t feel certain. Personality-wise I am a type-A planner. I live and die by the google calendar and have been known to block out every hour, every weekend, every moment with what activity or adventure I’d like to go on. I have a deep sense of what can best be described as the 2012 Tumblr mantra, “wanderlust.”
What is a wanderlust person?
Wanderlust is a very strong desire to travel. An example of wanderlust is someone who, just after returning home from a two-month trip, immediately starts planning their next one.
I’m often reminded by my thoughtful partner to enjoy the moment, as I can often be found looking for another place to travel to while currently on a trip. I realize that’s not everyone, nor very healthy as it’s always best to savor and enjoy the present. All of this is to be said because 2020 taught me a lot of patience. It’s taught me mental strength, and it’s taught me that others in my life are also mentally so strong, and so important to me.
It’s incredible the adaptability, the sheer perseverance as those around me lost their jobs, their long-time significant others, their place to rent (a lot of Millenials are moving back in with parents), and just an overall shake-up. Nothing was anticipated, nothing was planned. We all had to adapt and quickly.
It’s widened my perspective on what is possible, and also what is so fragile. How do I, someone who loves to do something all the time, keep that momentum in a way that is safe and intelligent? My answer is escapism. Escapism can conjure up a lot of ideas. Alcohol, drugs, running away…mine was more of the “running away” type but more in the likes of physical running or just camping a lot. Going outdoors, exploring completely new places that I had hoped to see but never had the opportunity to. Truly though, I would rather travel overseas than over states.
I had no more real control over this disease and the cause-and-effect it brought with it, but I could explore in my backyard. I could finally find a slight sense of peace. Since this lack of control and overall burnt out feeling persisted, I escaped a lot. I should mention too that my greatest sense of joy in life comes from being social, and being outside. Since the first option was not anymore, I fully embraced the outside opportunities. Below is a snapshot of just some of the trails I explored, places I camped or scened from the road trips I went on.
I am fully aware of how fortunate I am to be able to have these memories of this complicated year, but I also urge you to take the opportunities you can to be outside. There are so many wonderful trails, opportunities, and walked you can do just from your neighborhood.
Some apps that make it even easier to find less explored trails are:
I’m sure there are even more, but these were the apps that I turned to the most when I wanted to find a local trail that was less trodden on. I want to encourage you to go outside, but discourage you from trashing it. Packing in and packing out means whatever evidence that you were ever there, must not be left. No trash, no gum, no trailblazing new paths. I love the outdoors but I also understand the privilege it is to enjoy it, so I want to retain the beauty as much as possible because inevitably, we will have an impact on the trails and spaces outdoors.
I know I will continue to want to socialize, to explore, to see new things, but given the very real pandemic, I’ve accepted the safe route and truly enjoyed it. I’ve fallen in love with the Bay Area in a way that I didn’t think was possible, and I am wholly grateful for the trails and ways to enjoy what’s in my local radius. Also, if you need a push to get into trail running, watch a few Courtney Dauwalter videos, check out the book Born to Run, or listen to a Strava podcast. Overall, just being at peace with where you are and accepting the challenges that 2020 presents us with is so much easier for me with an opportunity to go outside.