My Story

5 years ago, I shared a life with a man I’d been with for 14 years – the entirety of my adult life, at that point. That came crashing down December 2017, when he left unexpectedly. Scared, lost and with no idea how to make ends meet, I took to the desert and mountains. I had to find myself and discover who I was, without him.

I was new to hiking and had never camped solo, much less backpacked. Yet, I found freedom in each adventure, proving myself capable. Strong. Brave. Confident. By October 2018, I hiked Rim-to-Rim, 24miles across the Grand Canyon and completed my first solo backpacking weekend. As my legs carried me across various landscapes, I learned to slow down and breathe deep. I was transformed by the breeze whistling through the trees and whipping around my body, while atop summits. My confidence grew and slowly, I was reunited with my deepest self. I discovered writing was an outlet, a way to connect to and with others, to inspire and a way for us all to feel less disconnected, less alone. Simultaneously, I began photo documenting where my two legs were able to carry me, to share the beauty with others, who were unable (or not yet confident) to leave whatever set of four-walls held them indoors.

After five interviews for a huge promotion, I was being eliminated in the final round. The timing coincided with my plans for a two-week roadtrip through CA, and I realized just how much there was to see in this country alone.

After my divorce, I craved travel but no longer had the financial means. I began hosting couchsurfers, to vicariously fulfill my wanderlust. As new friends from France, Germany, Israel and other various corners of the world filled my home, I admired their initiative to roadtrip the U.S and realized how much I still had not seen of the place I called home.

Inspired, I put my house on Airbnb and would camp, while others slept in my bed, in order to save up the money needed to refinance and own my home solo AND to buy a campervan. In May 2019 I met both goals - the same day I refinanced, I flew to the Midwest and purchased a 1992 campervan. When 2019 begun, I’d set a new goal - finish seeing all 50 states by the end of the year… a campervan and remote work seemed like the perfect vessels to quench my thirst for nonstop travel and a life lived outside of four walls.

I named the van ‘Coach Betty’ and off I went with my dog, Mister. Departing with only a loose route in mind, my pup and I were ready for the biggest adventure of our lives (while simultaneously questioning if I had lost my mind!). In July, I stopped in Boise for a van repair. While there, I experienced one heck of a meet-cute (a separate story) and ended up adding Micah, my now Fiance, to my life.
For four months, I lived exclusively on the road. I had a great deal of time alone. A lot of time with my thoughts and subsequently, time to wholeheartedly lean into my grief, allowing me the chance to heal. It was the best gift I have ever given myself – learning how to be comfortable being alone. I gained feelings of empowerment and independence. It was a great opportunity to dive deeper into who I was and through that time of reflection, I gained peace, self-confidence, self-love and insight into the areas of my heart and mind which still needed to heal.

In October 2019, Micah and I crossed into Oregon, my 50th state. My 2019 goal had come to fruition. Life was feeling goooood. The next day was a slow, drizzly Mid-October morning... I was cozily cocooned in the van. I’d made pancakes and then worked from the back of the van. Doors wide open, I was snuggled under a blanket, my laptop open. As I worked, huge waves crashed into Cape Disappointment. Micah ran about, snapping picture after picture; his joy permeated the air. I had a strong sense of contentment, of completeness.

I had not returned to my pre-divorce financial security; yet, I was rich in memories, rich in moments shared, rich in breaths that healed, and rich in relationships, both family, friends and romantic. I was starting to recognize life was not about the titles to which I had once clung – “Army Wife”; “Mrs.”; a myriad of business titles / promotions; home size; brand names or the type of car I drove.
My summer of minimalism and time in nature had cemented life being about the moments and the relationships (both self and others). ~~ A week later, my boss called with HR on the line. I was being laid off. After 11 years in the wellness industry, I had 2 weeks remaining. Once again, I felt scared and lost, but this time, I was simultaneously filled with a sense of peace– confidence to know I would be OK, regardless of the unknown path ahead.

AZ was approaching prime tourism season; I was already seasoned to van living so I immediately listed my house as available to rent every night. I’d done it before, I’d get through this too. ...here we are 16 months later. A year of budgeting, freelance work, contract writing, consulting, coaching and renting my house... and somehow making ends meet. I wouldn't have believed it.

The last few years have made me so very thankful for my optimism and the previous training I had in wellness and building resilience and I find myself grateful for the opportunities to take the broken pieces [which life can serve up] and turn them into art.

And that is why I created a business around helping others build resilience. After 2020, we have all seen how life is bound to throw us curve balls. I didn't choose divorce or choose to get laid off but I did choose what to do with my life once those things happened. I could have wallowed, I could have returned to a similar job, a similar relationship, a similar mindset. But I applied resilience and chose to see it all as an opportunity, an invitation for more and I am so excited to be helping others learn and practice the same.