I pause at the fringe, looking ahead to the brown and green. Phone slides into the pocket of my bag, and I’m ready to go. I hoist the bag on my shoulder and step into the wood proper. The pavement falls away behind me, and with every step, so do the sounds of civilization. Instead of the slight crunch of loose stones on the pavement, I hear the scrape of dirt, the crackle of dry leaves, and the snap of twigs with every step. Birdsong and the slight buzz of many insects fall on my ears as the whine of cars along a busy road and the chatter from crowds of people fall away. A breeze through the trees adds the shush of leaves brushing against one another and the creak of tall boughs. Plops and scurrying feet in the underbrush attest to squirrels and other critters. And I settle into myself, allowing my thoughts to fill the quiet space in front of me. Here, in this space, I reclaim who I am.
We’ve talked a lot about relationships, but so far we’ve talked about relationships with other people. But one of the most important relationships you will ever have is the relationship you have with yourself. This relationship dictates how you view and interact with the world, and it directs your part in relationships with others. But, like all relationships, it takes time to develop a good relationship with yourself. You have to take time to spend with yourself.
When you spend quality time with other people and work to build those relationships, you don’t do so by sitting on your device while in the room with the other person. In the same way, you need to put down the devices and disconnect from the world of social media in order to truly develop a relationship with yourself. From personal experience, I recommend getting out of the house, away from civilization and the temptation to check social media and use those devices.
For me, nature is a great place to relax. The calm and stillness fills me up and I’m able to tap into that inner part of me that I often lose when I’m surrounded by the noise and bustle of everyday life. The woods are my haven when I need to get away and rediscover myself. But you don’t need to go to the woods as I do. Find the place in nature that works best for you–you could go to a deserted stretch of beach, a canyon, a valley, a plain. Go wherever works for you, but make sure to unplug from the Internet and your devices. After all, when you don’t have all of that information flowing into you, you’re able to discover what you already have inside.
You can discover yourself.
What’s your preferred place for getting away and rediscovering yourself? Share in the comments below!
Voice Pianissimo 
What are your thoughts?