Sometimes I dream about running away and living in the woods

My musings on what it would be like to live a completely off the grid life

I’ll start with this: time is a thief, but we also aren’t doing much to stop the robbery.

There’s a thought I’ve had quite frequently over the past half a decade or so. This idea of leaving it all behind and venturing into the secluded woods and mountain landscapes, with nothing but my family in tow.

The older I get, the more I see how our fast-paced way of living strips us of joy. I’ve become increasingly aware of how quickly life passes us by, so much so that I can practically hear the ticking seconds of a clock in the back of my mind as I go about my day.

And with every acknowledgement of that quick passage of time, the more enticing this off the grid life actually sounds. We only exist on this planet for a blip, in the grand scheme of things, and I don’t think many of us truly understand the gravity of that.

I’ll be honest, I think a big part of my desire to escape comes from becoming a mom and realizing that the only moments that really matter are the ones when you’re fully there with the humans you love more than anything on this planet; the ones who make it feel like your heart beats outside of your own chest.

But when we live in a society that prioritizes everything but the relationships in our lives, we get cheated out of the moments that mean the most.

We’re constantly being told we have to value everything but what matters to us. The job. The tasks around the house. The constant pings of the phone, begging us to disconnect from reality and immerse ourselves in a digital space that holds no meaning whatsoever.

The thing is, there’s something about being in the outdoors that slows down the clock. Have you ever noticed that time rarely feels like it flies when you’re on a hike? You become hyper-aware of every breath and every step, each one drawn out as if to insist you acknowledge its existence.

For me, I find that hiking is one of those rare occasions in my life where I really, truly, deeply feel like I’m living in the present; not harping on the past or dreaming of the future.

If I’m being completely transparent, that’s what I want for my kids, too. I remember the days of my childhood so vividly. Hours spent hanging out in a rows of bushes and shrubs, analyzing the patterns on the rocks and sticks around me.

And I fear that we live in a world today that does anything but encourage that type of presence. Not for kids, and certainly not for adults. We value productivity above all else, and we forget that sometimes boredom is the best feeling of the bunch.

Here’s the thing: I’m exhausted with constantly feeling like everything is a five alarm fire.

No, most of us don’t work life or death jobs. So why do we act like we do? No, it really doesn’t matter if you respond to that text right now or a few days from now. So why do we pressure ourselves to be quick to get back?

The fact of the matter is, there was never a time in history where we had this many ways for people to reach us around the clock, no matter the occasion. But in the modern day, our phones leave us helplessly connected.

And all I want to do is disconnect, put on my hiking boots, pack up my damn bags, pop the kids in the car, and go.

We’ll live in the woods. We’ll spend every day fully locked into the present. We’ll thrive through moments of boredom and discover how it makes us more creative. And we’ll be all the better for it.

If only.