Escape from the Grind

I spent the evening at Sherlock’s Escape Room with some of my St. Mary friends. I got to know these women through a church retreat that then led to a year long exploration of faith and Christian community. The experience was a big commitment, but definitely worth the time and effort. I’m not sure I grew my faith as much as I wanted, but the connection I made with the group is undeniable.

I’ll save the suspense—we didn’t escape. Well, we didn’t escape the room….

All of my friends have many, many responsibilities—kids, work, spouses, houses, elderly parents, volunteering, to name a few. While escapism is often considered a negative way of dealing with the stressors of our lives, I’m certain it’s beneficial in small doses. According to Psychology Today, “Sometimes, getting lost in a book, distracting yourself with a game, or letting your mind wander may be exactly what your brain needs.”

As we stepped into our motel themed room, we escaped into an alternate world where the only way to win the game was to suspend reality and focus our full attention on the problem at hand. There was no time to think about work problems or our workout routines, no need to worry about money or what to make for dinner. We quickly focused in on cracking into locked suitcases that held the clues we hoped would lead to our escape.

I’ve certainly taken escapism to less-than-ideal levels, especially when my anxiety and confidence issues are in overdrive. Binging The Office when I have housework to do, eating Planter’s Cheez Balls instead of going to the gym, drinking bourbon and singing classic country songs instead of facing career failures, sleeping to avoid a hard conversation.

This outing was a healthy distraction, an escape from the daily grind, but with a positive twist. Everybody needs a break and especially people like me with a brain that obsesses over mistakes and problems. Allowing our minds to focus on something besides our responsibilities and stressors is exactly what we need. Plus, focusing on solving a puzzle that’s completely unrelated to any of real world challenge is a great way to practice problem solving.

When approaching a goal or a large problem, I usually get overwhelmed. What should my first steps be? What will people think? What if I make a mistake? And the ever present, what if I fail? I usually allow my anxiety to kick in because worrying seems like action. In reality, it’s an excuse that allows me to do nothing but still feel productive. The escape room was a great reminder that starting is the only way to move forward because mistakes reveal what not to do, inching us closer to our goals.

Even though we didn’t meet our goal, I consider this adventure a success. Everyone contributed to progress, we laughed, and even though our lack of pattern decoding and math skills led to our demise, we still had fun. Most importantly, spending time with a group of people who care and want what’s best for each other is uplifting.

Thanks for a fun night, CRHP ladies!