Can you walk?

I’m in the van in a parking area at this super rad hotel/campground/experience(?!) in Marfa, West Texas. I’m sitting in the passenger seat that’s spun around to face the rest of the van. The door’s open and it’s chilly and really dark out. The stars should put on quite a show out here. Henley is up on my bed, wearing an old red bandana, trying to keep his eyes open to stare at me, as he loves to do. I have a local beer and a bag of Tate’s cookies next to me and a candle is burning. A pretty perfect Andrew Bird song is playing. I was just in the middle of some school work for the nutrition program I’m in, when the feeling of joy and pride and gratitude overwhelmed me.

I did it. This is what I wanted. And I have it. I’m doing the damn thing! I’m traveling the country in a camper van I dreamed about for so long and managing to make a living doing it WHILST I work towards more dreams of working in nutrition and wellness, being my own boss with my own schedule, and working remotely so I can travel, live wherever I want, and hang out with Henley all day. 

(I know doing homework in a van in the desert in Texas isn’t a lot of people’s dream, but it’s MINE.)

So there’s a couple things you can do:

1. Thank your lucky stars for what you have and what you’re doing and where you are. This isn’t a brand new stage of life that I just reached today that made me so grateful. It’s just that I stopped to think about it. Even if you think you don’t have everything you want (there will always be more that we want), think about what you DO have, the GOOD parts. Do you have a job? Someone that loves you? Food and shelter? Can you freakin’ walk? You have SOMETHING to be grateful for and to cherish. And chances are, you didn’t just fall into this situation, good or bad, and your decisions and actions helped you get here. So take pride in that and keep up the good work.

2. If you’re thinking of the negatives, take responsibility for those too. If you don’t like what you’re doing or where you are or who you’re with, CHANGE IT. It might be hard and painful to make changes, but it’s less painful than living a life you don’t love and looking back with regret. I recently read Gwyneth Paltrow say, “We’re here one time. One life. How can we really milk the shit out of this?” GP’s questionable health claims aside, this quote has stuck with me. 

Do whatever the F makes you happy and let’s milk the shit out of this!