Race Reed March 7, 2026 Going Camping and Actually Disconnecting (Free Choice)

A few friends and I went on a camping trip over spring break and I honestly did not realize how much I needed it until we were actually out there. We found a spot, set up our tents, made a fire, and just existed outside for a couple of days with no real agenda. It sounds simple but it honestly felt rare.

What I kept noticing was how quickly my sense of time changed. Without a phone or a schedule everything slowed down in a way that felt almost anxiety inducing but my anxiety slipped away. Just looking at the fire and sitting next to my boys I started to calm, the time didn't matter to me anymore and I realized I felt totally disconnected from the urban micromanage lifestyle I have grown so used to. 

I think this connects to what we've been talking about in class with phenomenology and bracketing. When you strip away all the noise you actually start noticing things, the way the fire smelled, how loud the silence was, how different the stars looked without any light pollution. Nature has a way of demanding your attention when you let it. I want to go back soon.


 

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