I Didn’t Come Home to Go Back to My Old Life
Sometimes the journey changes you in ways you don’t fully understand until you return home. When I left home for my road trip, I knew I wanted an adventure. What I didn’t realize was how much the experience would remind me of who I am when I step outside the routines, expectations, and patterns of everyday life. For two and a half months, I explored new places, discovered beautiful beaches, visited lighthouses and waterfalls, wandered through state parks, and experienced the freedom of not having every moment planned. I travelled more than 10,000 miles with my dog, Zen, in a 20-year-old vehicle. There were unexpected detours, challenges, moments of uncertainty, and plenty of reasons to change plans along the way. And there were moments when I simply had to trust that the next step would reveal itself. What I discovered was that I felt more like myself than I had in a long time. I Wasn’t Waiting for Life to Happen At home, it can be easy to fall into familiar routines. We tell ourselves...