Reality Check

I think there are times in our lives when we all like to escape from reality. Escaping comes in many forms and includes everything from going on vacation to reading a book or watching a movie. The degree to which we can check out depends entirely on how enticing the distraction is. If the movie or book draws us in, then our escape can be more complete. If they're not so great, well, reality might not be quite as far away as we might hope.

I recognize that the escapism I speak of is a temporary condition, and that's what it's intended to be. But who's to say that you can't enjoy leaving your own life behind for a few hours or a few days, if you go on vacation. I can think of more than one vacation I've taken that's hit just the right spot. . . mmm and what a nice spot it was too. :)

The only setback to escapism is that eventually we have to return to our own life. No matter how compelling the story or how into a TV show or movie you may get, your form of escapism must come to an end. You eventually have to return to reality, which in some cases means returning to work.

Once you return to reality, then the things you're trying to escape from all come crashing back in and you must face them again. It's a hard fact of life, but it's the truth. And honestly, that's the way life's meant to be--we can't avoid the hard things, stressful situations or things that make us sad. We can temporarily escape so we don't have to think about them, but eventually we have to make our way back.

Lest you think this entry beyond depressing, I will end on a happy note. I am also a strong believer in the resiliency of the human spirit and the fact that we are stronger than we think. While life may seem like too much at times, don't ever give up. Keep forging ahead (and it's okay to allow yourself to escape sometimes) and you can and will make it through. Just be careful not to try to turn your form of escapism into your reality. It won't work and could potentially leave you in a worse condition than what you were in before. Face it as much as you can as soon as possible, and you will make it through.