As I arrived at the top of the mountain and looked down at the town, I knew something had to change.
I felt so good. I felt alive. I loved being up there.
I couldn't keep letting myself fall back into trances.
I was willing to do whatever it took to get out of the pattern.
I needed accountability. I needed help.
There had to be a person or group who could help. After all these years of trying alone, I would look.
As soon as I got home, I opened ChatGPT and asked whether some kind of group existed for people who didn't want to waste their time online.
I expected a local gathering of people who wanted to be outdoors more. A little meet-up, maybe. Hiking.
Instead, I found two organisations I had never heard of and frankly didn't like the sound of: Media Addicts Anonymous and Internet and Technology Addicts Anonymous.
Okay.
But I was not an addict.
I typed back: I just want a group. I don't need a twelve-step programme.
But you said you would do anything, my mind reminded me.
Fine.
I opened the Media Addicts Anonymous website. I was not a media addict; I just wasted time on my phone. Anyway.
I read the site. If I was honest, I recognised myself in parts of it. Surprisingly. Maybe I was feeling so good that my usual resistance was down.
Either way, I signed up for a month-long media fast due to begin at 7 p.m. on 28 June.
It was a month away, but I felt better already.
At least I was finally doing something that did not involve locking my phone in a box under a pile of rocks.
I wasn't sure whether the group would help.
I was at least willing to find out.