Last week, I spent a few days camping in northern Tennessee with my family. Our campsite was near the forest and alongside a beautiful lake. We spent the nights roasting food on a wood fire, playing board games, and watching the soft glow of lightning bugs. We spent days out on the boat, fishing, swimming, and tubing. We shared many laughs, jokes, and memories.

The camping trip was refreshing, not only because I was spending time outdoors, but also because I was fully present. I did not have any cell service or internet while I was there, and it really opened my eyes to my previous habits.

Throughout this season of quarantine, uncertainty, and staying at home, I've been really attached to screens and social media. I believe social media can be a beneficial and powerful, positive place. It brings people together in a different and unique way. It can shed light on situations and new perspectives, and it can provide jobs and creativity. However, sometimes it can be so easy to get caught up in a digital world. News stories and their headlines lure me in, and my eyes wander to social media platforms in search of hope and connection. Before my trip, I was so caught up in this cycle, that I didn't really realize how unhappy I had become. The gloom and the hopes of a "normal" dragged me down as I faced a new weariness.

My short break from phones and the internet helped me to gain some perspective and connect to what really matters.

The first change I noticed was how much time I had on my hands. I had time that was normally filled with my "filler," or a.k.a. my phone. I used my time to have deep conversations, build relationships with my family, and try new things. In the little moments that I would normally spend scrolling through Instagram or watching a video, I instead spent thinking, making goals, and enjoying the little things around me.

Secondly, I noticed how free I felt to be myself. I've never been one to go with the crowd or conform fully to trends, but I often fall into the trap of pressure and comparison. I reconnected with my originality while going wireless. I found the strength and freedom to be my curly-haired, artistic, and adventurous self. Authenticity is when the outside is in line with the inside.

Lastly, I had a better awareness for the world and others. I enjoyed the people sitting right next to me with a greater appreciation and gratitude. I was able to take a break to breathe, fueling me with more energy and perspective.

Camping unplugged helped me in so many ways, and I will always keep the memories and lessons near.

-M