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<center>*The willow which bends to the tempest, often escapes better than the oak which resists it; and so in great calamities, it sometimes happens that light and frivolous spirits recover their elasticity and presence of mind sooner than those of a loftier character.*</center>

<center>**- Albert Schweitzer -**</center>
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For some time now, I've resisted and been stoically resolute in my thoughts and actions and the results have flowed forth like a *bountiful spring of financial revenue that goes against my annual budget and keeps me and my company happy;* although the company will never be happy no matter how much revenue my efforts generate for them. It's the way of things.

I've worked incredibly hard for the last couple months, it's my way and in my nature to do so, and I've managed to achieve some great results for the company. I don't generally care what others are doing at work, I stay in my lane and focus on my own thoughts, attitudes, actions and results however today I found out that the company had compared my results against the others who have filled my role around the country over the last five years and it seems my efforts have put me at the tip of the spear.

It made me happy to know my efforts have placed me there, but whilst I had lunch today and reflected on all of that hard work and effort I realised I felt drained, worn out and feeling flat. It was right about then I decided I needed to escape, *with me*. 

I decided to make my escape a physical reality rather than a thought of concept and today my chosen escape was a hike. 

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I'm lucky enough to live opposite a large conservation park filled with trails and, after a quick stop at home to change, I was crunching gravel, sticks and leaves beneath my boots as I made my way up the hill. It's miraculous what happens when I'm surrounded by nature and get a little fresh air in my lungs; I relax, my head clears and a feeling of peace and comfort settles over me. It's healing. 

Today I decided to leave my phone home, both work and personal phones, and  I'm glad I did although I missed some great photo opportunities. It's ok though, I'm over there a lot so borrowed these images from other escapes I've made previously. 

It looked the same today, blue skies with a cloud or two moving silently along and fields of vibrant green grass and winter flowers. As I made my way upward, and my breathing became a little heavier with the exertion, I began to recentre and connect with my true self. I say, *true self,* because the version of me at work isn't the true version, it's a mix of various elements that have to combine to perform the activities required of my employer. Sure, the true me underpins everything else, but I have to *play a part* I guess I mean. My true self isn't an actor though, it's the real me and whilst I tend to permit only a few to see it, in the wilderness I *feel it deeply*, and it was that which I needed today. 
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I enjoyed my escape today. I was able to clear my head, sweep out some of those thoughts that had been cluttering my mind, and generally find a little peace and quiet. I'll be better for it moving forward and I don't feel at all guilty that my escape happened on company time; being paid to hike is a privilege of course, *but the benefit to the company of a G-dog with a presence of mind nurtured by a little time with nature is far greater than one with a scattered mind and soul.*

Do you escape in some way as I have today? How do you cast off the shroud of stress, pressure or being wound up tight? I think we all have our ways of doing it, and all have many different ways of doing it; I know I do. Today it was a hike-escape...But how do you do it, how often and when was the last time? 

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Design and create your ideal life, don't live it by default - *Tomorrow isn't promised so be humble and kind*

<sub><sub>The images are all my own.</sub></sub>