To be a person in this day and age is stressful. You got work, finances, the pressure to do everything right with everybody around you, and everything in between.And the media showing how messed up things are doesn’t help. Sometimes, it’s the little things that can help you escape into a different dimension. A world or a dimension where it can put the whole world on pause, dream and focus on something else.

Recently, I’ve been working out more than I ever had. I never really liked working out, I had a love-hate relationship with working out due to my mom kind of forcing me into it without asking me; almost like signing me up without my consent. But due to my weight being not the best, I decided to do something about it and downloaded the FitOn app. Now even though at first it was challenging to just do it, especially in the morning, but overtime I tend to enjoy it. What I love about it is that I don’t need to go anywhere to workout, as long as I have all the equipment I have and a good mindset. Good mindset as in a focused mindset. And a little furry partner that meows helps as well. It’s like for a good 30 minutes of my morning, I get to move my body, wake up a little and get a good start to my day. Now the result of the day can depend of certain factors like how and if the terrible twos (depression and anxiety) is going to act up or not. But to have a good 30 minutes to escape, focus on the movements, get a good sweat on and wake up a little without the coffee is something I now look forward to.

When I was younger, drawing and writing were my escapes. Even though I was a good student, teachers like me, I was a goody two shoes, I still would like to escape from the typical stresses. I taught myself how draw the summer of 2012 after watching Treasure Planet. I had a huge crush on the character Jim Hawkins that I want to draw in that style, not in stick figures. So the entire summer, I traced, used the “artist’s eye” to got from computer screen to paper and whatever methods I did and continued. Writing is something that kind of goes hand in hand with my drawing. If I got a story to write about, I draw the characters and the scene, and it was a true escape. I honestly wish I could do the same as I did when I was 15 or 16 but I don’t know, I should pick it up again more frequently because it’s something I truly enjoyed and can do for hours.

A personal escape doesn’t have to be a thing you do, it can be time spent with loved ones. Now, my parents and I don’t live in the same area anymore but when I visit, I’d want to spend as much as time as possible, especially the first day. On the first day visiting, you can find me in the main area of the house, socializing with them, having a beer or cider in hand (because I don’t drink as often anyways) and spending time with them as much as possible. But back home, I have another person to escape with and that is with Brennan. We don’t live together as of now but whenever we hang out, that’s when my main focus is on him and him alone. Normally we just talk about random stuff and luckily he knows which stresses me out more than others and not bring it up during our hangouts. When people say their significant other is their home, that is true. I find comfort and a time to not stress around him. It may change when the time comes, it may not but who knows.

Other escapes, both past and present, are church, swimming, sleeping and daydreaming about a better future for myself where I’m writing screenplays and making money, married to the love of my life, and happier than I am now. If you can find your own escape, keep it and make sure you take the time to do so.