A Time Away From The Madness

[hedgeybaby]

As cigar smokers I am sure that a lot of us use our cigar as a moment away from the madness of our everyday lives. A moment for reflection - something that has been lacking with me for some time. Though in two weeks, Mrs H and child are away for a weekend and I intend to have some time away from it all.

This article might be of interest:

“Not all men are called to be hermits, but all men need enough silence and solitude in their lives to enable the deep inner voice of their own true self to be heard at least occasionally. When that inner voice is not heard, when man cannot attain to the spiritual peace that comes from being perfectly at one with his true self, his life is always miserable and exhausting. For he cannot go on happily for long unless he is in contact with the springs of spiritual life which are hidden in the depths of his own soul. If man is constantly exiled from his own home, locked out of his own spiritual solitude, he ceases to be a true person. He no longer lives as a man.” —Thomas Merton

 

https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/spiritual-disciplines-solitude-silence/

 

[Oscar300]

[Buck14]

Makes total sense to me. 

[El Presidente]

Relaxation and reflection is an art form.  

[Corylax18]

It may seem crazy. But I make sure I don't have any hunting partner/s for at least one season each year. Its been Elk, Black Bear, Mulie or Whitetail. It Doesnt matter, 2, 3, or 4 days getting lost in the woods by myself is the best "Mental Medicine" I could ever imagine. You definitely see things from a refreshed perspective. I've found myself delaying my return to reality farther and farther as I get older. I don't want to end up being a crazy mountain man, but the writings on the wall....

A big part of my motivation for getting my pilots license is actually along these lines. My dream is to own just enough of a flat valley floor that I can land an airplane on it. Somewhere far away from everyone. No roads, electricity, running water, cell service/internet. Just peace, quiet and natural beauty.

[cfc1016]

36 minutes ago, Corylax18 said:

It may seem crazy. But I make sure I don't have any hunting partner/s for at least one season each year. Its been Elk, Black Bear, Mulie or Whitetail. It Doesnt matter, 2, 3, or 4 days getting lost in the woods by myself is the best "Mental Medicine" I could ever imagine. You definitely see things from a refreshed perspective. I've found myself delaying my return to reality farther and farther as I get older. I don't want to end up being a crazy mountain man, but the writings on the wall....

A big part of my motivation for getting my pilots license is actually along these lines. My dream is to own just enough of a flat valley floor that I can land an airplane on it. Somewhere far away from everyone. No roads, electricity, running water, cell service/internet. Just peace, quiet and natural beauty.

I too need to escape to the wilderness with noone but my trusty hound, from time to time.  Never are my thoughts clearer than when I’m watching the sun rise from atop a mountain. 

I’m right there with you on the plane/valley thing. That’s a big reason I’m moving to Alaska. Stepping stone on the way to true hermit life. 

[Islandboy]

Yeah, I can relate. As relaxing as my regular ritual of taking a solid hour or so to do nothing but enjoy a cigar is, I still need the full-blown escape and mental cleansing that only my mountain bike and a mountain can offer. My thoughts focus on the moment more clearly, and reaching my destination is only a small part of the larger experience.

[Phillys]

I totally agree. Most nights when everyone is asleep, I head out to the deck with a cigar and reflect on business issues I am trying to solve or strategy. I don't think about what I have to do the next day, just big picture stuff. I have had my biggest ah ha moments doing this. Sometimes I just sit there and let my mind wander and eventually something clicks, then dive deeper and deeper. Most mornings, I wake up and that reflective time the night before has set my mind right and I get to work implementing whatever was hashed out the night before. 

If I go a few days without doing this, I can see the negative effect on the business, things start piling up and problems don't get solved, or we stop moving forward and stagnate.