Principal Morrow asked the question, “How often or in what way do you take time to retreat?”
In response to his question, I admittedly do not take the time out of my busy schedule for a retreat to refresh my mind. The word “retreat” in Latin means, “to pull back” (LaMuse, n.d.). Retreating and gaining clarity is becoming increasingly important, especially in today’s day and age. Whether the marketing machine or social media mediums, these manmade creations are designed to be more addictive and more powerful than ever with the goal to impregnate our conscious as they fight for attention in the attention economy. In essence, marketing is designed to impact our thinking at a subliminal level, whereas social media and TV are done on our own accord. However, they all take away our ability to be present and focus on what truly matters in our lives.
Although I do think that Thoreau’s actions were slightly drastic, I believe that there is truth and lessons that can be learned from his experience. By pulling back, we learn to re-strategize and redirect our energy into the spheres and venues that matter to us (LaMuse, n.d.). When our schedules become busy, our energies become dispersed in multiple directions, which greatly impacts our productivity and overall impact. By retreating, an individual can become aligned to their goals and aspirations that are most meaningful and fulfilling. It gives us a different perspective and as Albert Camus states, “In order to understand the world, one has to turn away from it on occasion” (Goodreads, n.d.). Ultimately, they re-strategize on how to make their life more meaningful by becoming inspired. Inspiration is serendipitous moments that occur when we have a different outlook on life (LaMuse, n.d.). Therefore, retreats can spur up the creative juices and produce innovative ideas.
When I was taking my undergrad at the University of Ottawa, I would frequently go for walks around the Parliament buildings and up to Sir Samuel de Champlain point to clear my head and realign with what is important in my life. Since moving to BC, I try to take walks at Crescent Beach every now and then; however, this is a rare occurrence.
Thoreau’s lesson is a good reminder of the importance of retreating and realigning with the essence of our true character. When life gets busy, walks in nature are one of the first things that get cut. However, we take for granted its rejuvenating qualities that can help us to become more productive in our personal and professional spheres. Evidently, it can pay dividends to our productivity as well as our happiness and relationships.
Thank you for your post, Principal Morrow! I really enjoyed reading your valuable insights!
Christina
References
Goodreads. (n.d.). Retreat Quotes. Retrieved on November 23, 2018, from https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/retreat
LaMuse (n.d.) Why are Retreats Important? Retrieved on November 22, 2018, from https://lamuseretreat.com/retreats/why-are-retreats-important/