Isn't that the truth! I firmly believe that. And while I have indulged in running away from my problems in my younger years, I no longer think doing that does what it initially seems to accomplish. But we all know that.
A friend of mine, who I know loves and cares about me, asked me before my last camping trip if these solo nature adventures that I am doing aren't just escapes from life, from dealing with shit, a distraction, and just a way to get away and shut off from the world.
So I said to him, he is right about one thing. It is a way to shut off from the world, not to escape from dealing with what life throws at me, but the opposite. Getting away from the daily noise and spending some time in solitude lets me actually feel and hear what the hell is going on with me. I, on purpose, apply the "wherever you go, there you are" principle here. I take my problems to nature. Because there are no distractions, no bullshit, and no one to impress or please. And as a high empath, there's no better place for that. It's just me with my thoughts. It allows me to take inventory of everything that's been bothering me, keeping me up at night, or making me depressed. And by doing so, not only am I able to release all that negativity, but it helps me become a better friend, boss, and partner… Ultimately, become better at handling similar situations next time they occur and eliminate stress, anxiety, and even depression.
For me, my friend, solitude is not an escape from life but a time where I face it, heal and get better at it.
-Michal