Let me stumble upon a brand new life because the green beans are taking too long to cook, and I have to unload the dishwasher, and my house is a mess, and I’m on the cusp of losing my ever living shit
Hi Alexa, this is such a deep reflection. I resonate in many ways. I used to think that I was a master of escapism, but then I realized that I was just a dreamer. While others dream of what can be fitted into their current reality, I went beyond.
I like how you differentiate between alternate realities that must happen and those that can just stay in the other dimension. I believe all of our hope, dreams, wishes, and desires don’t just come from thin air but reside in different planes of realities ready to be acted upon.
My realities or alternate realities are always between what the eyes can see: making people smile, connecting them to their utmost potentials, and also with other people with whom they need to connect to realize their goals and dreams; writing; making my world beautiful; and what the eyes can’t see: the cosmos, metaphysics, and subconscious mind, where all the alternate realities of unlimited potential reside.
I always desire to make my so-called fantasies a reality; that’s because I don’t like boring life 😅 and I want to experience it all (with whatever can be made possible from moment to moment). For example, I decided to become an actor in my 40s—not for the fame but for the fact that I could liberate myself while playing different characters. It's such an exhilarating feeling. Maybe similar to how you imagine yourself living in those places you visit. I borrow the characters' realities for a moment, so I can experience all the multi-dimensionality of myself that can’t always be expressed in my current reality - coz’ that’ll cause too much dramas 😁.
Thank you so much for this beautiful response, Karen! Love that you became an actor in your 40s! I don't act professionally anymore (which I'll be talking about in tomorrow's post!) but I used to love, love slipping into different characters. Sometimes it was VERY hard to shake them off after the curtain closed.
Also love the way that you talk about what your yes can see and what the eyes can' see, as well as the different planes of reality ready to be acted upon.
Loved this essay. I totally relate. I love taking trips and experiencing new places and people. There’s something magical about taking a solo drive and stopping off in small towns to check out random stores or quant restaurants and going to state parks for a solo hike. I love solo travel the most when I get to write and observe and just take everything in on my own agenda. Traveling with my husband is nice, too, but I have felt the most free on solo excursions.
I think I've used escapism my entire life, but in ways that were accessible to me: writing alternate realities for myself as if I was living as someone else, playing the Sims, vicariously watching YouTubers haha.
Something I found interesting is that I'm able to eat things I usually don't when I'm out of town or the country! Not everything I usually don't... but I don't have as much of an aversion to some foods which I find weird! (Maybe they're better quality elsewhere too?).
But since mom passed I've traveled more than I ever have! I went to South Korea while she was alive and loved it! Hmmm... I think there's a magic in traveling. Makes the place special and KEEP that special touch. It's like getting a new phone and you're just so precious and tender with it... Until it loses that "newness" haha! BUT, I would like to spend a long, LONG time in new places or places I love!
Like... A month. 2-3 weeks. Something where I can really slow down and melt into my new world. I went to the beach a couple months ago for the first time since I was three and I LOVED. IT. Goodness...
And it was only a day or two! I find it precious to still hold it as a special place since I don't have access to it easily. Same with any other place I've visited I suppose!
Otherwise, I feel I'm at a place where I'm embracing a new life and starting over! I get to see what happens and what I can build my life to be and look like now!
Always appreciate these thoughtful replies Cierra! And omg I used to LOVE the Sims.
Such an interesting observation about being more willing to try new things when out of town. Part of the magic of the adventure.
So glad to hear that traveling has been healing for you too, especially after the loss of your mom.
And I really love the new image of melting into new worlds! Hope you can continue to embrace that sense of freedom and possibility in this new chapter of yours.
Thank you! It's easy to do with your writing; you make me think!
And aside from my Substack, I'm legitimately changing all my social handles to "Cierra Slows Down" cause I just like taking things slow! If I'm on vacation, I wanna explore and feel like there's time! Not cram it all in two or three days.
But slowing down period has been beneficial haha.
I think it's weirder that I'm more willing to try foods I know I don't like eating in my everyday life, but I end up liking it when I'm away! (But the food quality may be different too).
Like when I went to Korea, we had acai bowls and I usually don't like seedy fruits like raspberries and such but they had like... broken it down somehow? And I ate everything but the bananas (I don't like bananas but should've tried again!).
Thanks for introducing me to some new songs! And excellent singing again : )
I loved The Midnight Library too. That really would be an amazing book to escape within. It's also never to late to be what you might have been. (George Eliot)
This speaks to my soul. I've been an escapist for most of my life. Traveling here, there, everywhere. Terrified of committing to one place. I would love to escape back to the PNW. Oregon to be exact. I felt the most myself there and while I love my life where I'm at — I've accepted that I'll always long for places I've never seen, people I've never met, and the newness, presence, and awareness that comes with being places you've never been before.
I felt this, sometimes I would love to escape my reality and start over. I travel to Tennessee a whole lot, this is a great place for me to escape to because the area I’m in has no internet and I can be alone in the mountains surrounded by nature. Loved this read!
Hi Alexa, this is such a deep reflection. I resonate in many ways. I used to think that I was a master of escapism, but then I realized that I was just a dreamer. While others dream of what can be fitted into their current reality, I went beyond.
I like how you differentiate between alternate realities that must happen and those that can just stay in the other dimension. I believe all of our hope, dreams, wishes, and desires don’t just come from thin air but reside in different planes of realities ready to be acted upon.
My realities or alternate realities are always between what the eyes can see: making people smile, connecting them to their utmost potentials, and also with other people with whom they need to connect to realize their goals and dreams; writing; making my world beautiful; and what the eyes can’t see: the cosmos, metaphysics, and subconscious mind, where all the alternate realities of unlimited potential reside.
I always desire to make my so-called fantasies a reality; that’s because I don’t like boring life 😅 and I want to experience it all (with whatever can be made possible from moment to moment). For example, I decided to become an actor in my 40s—not for the fame but for the fact that I could liberate myself while playing different characters. It's such an exhilarating feeling. Maybe similar to how you imagine yourself living in those places you visit. I borrow the characters' realities for a moment, so I can experience all the multi-dimensionality of myself that can’t always be expressed in my current reality - coz’ that’ll cause too much dramas 😁.
Thank you so much for this beautiful response, Karen! Love that you became an actor in your 40s! I don't act professionally anymore (which I'll be talking about in tomorrow's post!) but I used to love, love slipping into different characters. Sometimes it was VERY hard to shake them off after the curtain closed.
Also love the way that you talk about what your yes can see and what the eyes can' see, as well as the different planes of reality ready to be acted upon.
So glad that we're connected here.
Can’t wait to read your tomorrow’s post!
Really excited to hear what you think!
Yes indeed 💛
Loved this essay. I totally relate. I love taking trips and experiencing new places and people. There’s something magical about taking a solo drive and stopping off in small towns to check out random stores or quant restaurants and going to state parks for a solo hike. I love solo travel the most when I get to write and observe and just take everything in on my own agenda. Traveling with my husband is nice, too, but I have felt the most free on solo excursions.
Thank you CB! I totally relate to that freedom on solo trips, and being able to pop in and out of places.
I think I've used escapism my entire life, but in ways that were accessible to me: writing alternate realities for myself as if I was living as someone else, playing the Sims, vicariously watching YouTubers haha.
Something I found interesting is that I'm able to eat things I usually don't when I'm out of town or the country! Not everything I usually don't... but I don't have as much of an aversion to some foods which I find weird! (Maybe they're better quality elsewhere too?).
But since mom passed I've traveled more than I ever have! I went to South Korea while she was alive and loved it! Hmmm... I think there's a magic in traveling. Makes the place special and KEEP that special touch. It's like getting a new phone and you're just so precious and tender with it... Until it loses that "newness" haha! BUT, I would like to spend a long, LONG time in new places or places I love!
Like... A month. 2-3 weeks. Something where I can really slow down and melt into my new world. I went to the beach a couple months ago for the first time since I was three and I LOVED. IT. Goodness...
And it was only a day or two! I find it precious to still hold it as a special place since I don't have access to it easily. Same with any other place I've visited I suppose!
Otherwise, I feel I'm at a place where I'm embracing a new life and starting over! I get to see what happens and what I can build my life to be and look like now!
Always appreciate these thoughtful replies Cierra! And omg I used to LOVE the Sims.
Such an interesting observation about being more willing to try new things when out of town. Part of the magic of the adventure.
So glad to hear that traveling has been healing for you too, especially after the loss of your mom.
And I really love the new image of melting into new worlds! Hope you can continue to embrace that sense of freedom and possibility in this new chapter of yours.
Thank you! It's easy to do with your writing; you make me think!
And aside from my Substack, I'm legitimately changing all my social handles to "Cierra Slows Down" cause I just like taking things slow! If I'm on vacation, I wanna explore and feel like there's time! Not cram it all in two or three days.
But slowing down period has been beneficial haha.
I think it's weirder that I'm more willing to try foods I know I don't like eating in my everyday life, but I end up liking it when I'm away! (But the food quality may be different too).
Like when I went to Korea, we had acai bowls and I usually don't like seedy fruits like raspberries and such but they had like... broken it down somehow? And I ate everything but the bananas (I don't like bananas but should've tried again!).
So weird lol. And thank you for the well wishes!
Thanks for introducing me to some new songs! And excellent singing again : )
I loved The Midnight Library too. That really would be an amazing book to escape within. It's also never to late to be what you might have been. (George Eliot)
Thank you Marisa! That George Eliot quote is one of my favorites!!!
So glad I could introduce you to some new music. Reneè Rapp actually has some more new music coming out very soon, which I'm super excited about.
And your compliments on my singing always make my week :) So glad that you enjoy the voiceover feature!
This speaks to my soul. I've been an escapist for most of my life. Traveling here, there, everywhere. Terrified of committing to one place. I would love to escape back to the PNW. Oregon to be exact. I felt the most myself there and while I love my life where I'm at — I've accepted that I'll always long for places I've never seen, people I've never met, and the newness, presence, and awareness that comes with being places you've never been before.
I felt this, sometimes I would love to escape my reality and start over. I travel to Tennessee a whole lot, this is a great place for me to escape to because the area I’m in has no internet and I can be alone in the mountains surrounded by nature. Loved this read!
Thank you Makenna! I've only been to Tennessee once, to visit Dollywood in Knoxville when I was younger. Would love to visit those mountains one day.