— What’s your plan tomorrow?
— I’m off for a road trip in the morning.
As blunt as it gets. They seem slightly taken aback.
I gave it three full days. Meetings over breakfasts, lunches, dinners. Chitchat over coffee, at the booth or in a suite. Enough. I deserve a hard pivot away from my business self. Enough. Enough of enterprise enthusiasm.
Time to be on my own.
I’m leaving at dawn, hiking through the valley by noon.
Do I wish I were here with somebody? I do. But do I care much? Not really. I enjoy being alone and there’s plenty of beauty to keep dopamine flowing.
Hours later, I watch the sunset. Just once, no hard Le Petit Prince moments. No company and very little agenda. Perhaps a good time to reflect?
I wonder when I’d be strong enough to cut ties with the rollercoaster of corporate life, the life I mostly love and occasionally hate, the one that keeps consuming time I’ll never get back.
For once, I’m fucking present, no distraction, no reception, no earbuds, no noise.
How much freedom can one bear? Albeit temporary. For now.
