06/09/2026
I wasn’t raised a fearless mountain woman. I didn’t grow up skiing, camping, or doing any of the things people assume come naturally with this kind of life. Adventure, to me, isn’t something I was born into, it’s something I chose.
Growing up in the Midwest, vanlife and chasing wide-open landscapes weren’t exactly the norm. It wasn’t the lifestyle I was surrounded by, but it was always something I felt pulled toward. That quiet curiosity, that craving for something bigger, was always there.
A big part of that spark came from my aunt. She planted the seed early, dreaming about the West, about the freedom of the road, about life in camper vans and the idea that there was more out there waiting to be experienced. Those conversations stuck with me. They became something I carried, even when it felt far away.
Losing my aunt changed everything. It made those dreams feel louder, more urgent. It made me realize that the things we talk about, the things we hope to do “someday,” aren’t guaranteed. That someday isn’t promised.
Choosing to pivot my life and actually follow those dreams has been one of the most rewarding decisions I’ve ever made. It’s not perfect, far from it. This life can be messy, unpredictable, uncomfortable at times, but it’s also freeing, beautiful, and deeply fulfilling in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’ve lived it.
It’s waking up somewhere new. It’s learning to embrace the unknown. It’s realizing you don’t need everything to feel like you have enough.
Most importantly, it’s a reminder that tomorrow isn’t promised. The “right time” doesn’t always come. If there’s something calling you, something you can’t quite shake, you owe it to yourself to listen.
Take the leap when you can. It might just change everything.
