Being a college student means entering a world of higher learning, questionable food choices, and stress in the air. It's hard to say that a feeling such as stress is considered normal within any college campus which can take a toll on your health and apply the dozens of methods to get rid of this feeling. Not going to lie, I'm constantly stressed, heck I stress about wanting chicken nuggets or a chicken sandwich from Chick-Fil-A! However, there have been a few times where I just spend a weekend away from any schoolwork, and even away from the environment itself. Basically, going off the grid for the weekend to enjoy the rural environment in the north portion of Arizona. Here's what a city slicker experiences when off the grid.
As someone who has lived in the city throughout her whole life in addition to attending a college in the heart of said city, I don't have much of an exposure to clean air and higher elevations. In fact, the lack of reception in the woods can easily be made up through observing what is right in front of you. However, as one with common sense, I don't tend to go off the grid by myself and instead be around my friends for the weekend. Out in the woods, there are not many opportunities to think about your worries back at school or work. I occupy myself with the friends I have around me to enjoy the natural surroundings in our cabin, hoping that we could see a squirrel or two.
For me, there's a spiritual connection whenever I get away from the distractions of everyday life to view the wonderful world that God has created for us. It just seems to be easier to connect with God when I'm not surrounded by the factors of my stress. We all have the tendency to make up excuses as to why some of us don't really get in contact with God and I'm guilty of it. My phone blows up every 5 minutes, with being involved with several campus communities in addition to having school. When all of those things are put aside for the weekend, it gives me the opportunity to just take a breather and embrace my surroundings. Being out in the open is also a friendly reminder of the world around me, that what I have on my plate now doesn't compare to this portion of the world. I am reminded that all of these worries don't mean anything outside of my environment back in the city. We're all guilty of getting too caught up with the littlest things that consume our thoughts -- we forgot about what really matters. Even in a secular perspective, it's a wonderful experience to get away from all your troubles for even just a few days to connect with nature.
