I am an avid hiker now but grew up in the suburbs. Going out to the backcountry for the first time was a life changing experience for me and allowed me to connect to nature in a way I never did before. Having such beauty around me was the catalyst and disconnected me from everything. It gave me a real perspective of looking at my life as a whole. Appreciating the people in my life, my love for them and what my aspirations are. It isn't all perfect though. There are these little hells too cycling around my brain but they were there to begin with and something I am forced to face. As someone who has done mental health work I am allowed to sit with my feelings and discern them, which is a large part of the process. In the past two years I have asked myself, "what are you getting out of the time sinks on your phone?" Not a whole lot. I never go on social media unless occasionally to see what people are up to and I force myself to eat and sometimes wait for things without being on my phone.