Here’s a philosophical question: does a journey begin with a decision or with an action? Was our life changed by late-night conversations at the bar, dreaming of semi-retirement, road trips, and national park adventures? Or did it change because each action we undertook seemed to happen quickly and seamlessly, propelling us forward faster than we ever planned?
Gary and I spent one memorable Friday night in early March sitting at our beautiful basement bar, enjoying a few beers—and perhaps a shot of tequila—discussing the “what ifs” of leaving work and Indiana behind to just hit the road for a few months. Logistically and financially, it was doable. But could we actually do it? Could we mentally and physically go through with it?
Sometimes in life, I think you just need to jump in with both feet without testing the waters first. That’s not to say you dive in blindly, but you make the conscious decision not to overthink or talk yourself out of it. It’s good for the soul to take a leap of faith and leave your comfort zone behind. Embracing the unknown at the midpoint of life isn’t as risky as sticking to the same plans and routines—day in and day out—reaping minimal joy or reward for the effort.
But if our actions are truly what changed our lives, then we have only ourselves—and some elusive good timing—to thank. Selling our house by ourselves in two days for full asking price was gleefully unexpected. Letting go of most of our possessions wasn’t as monumental as I thought it would be. Finding the perfect RV and Jeep and trading in our older vehicles was a pleasure. Some actions required more thought and planning, and many were hard on the soul. Saying goodbye to friends and a home full of memories was sad. But Gary and I kept our focus forward and chose to dwell on the positive effects of our decisions.
In the past two months, we’ve met amazing people, made new friends, and unexpectedly realized how much of our lives had been attached to stuff—clutter, really. One of the most rewarding actions has been decluttering. I’ve embraced the “joy of less,” taking inspiration from that adorable Marie Kondo on Netflix. I haven’t gone fully minimalist—I’m not living with only 72 possessions—but the transformation has been remarkable. Most people may not desire a life of constant adventure or change, but I believe many do crave a life of more—not more stuff, but more meaning, more joy, and more life.
So our journey begins now, built on a foundation of good decisions and hundreds of small, intentional actions over the past 50 days. With smiles on our faces—even on our two dogs’ adorable, fuzzy faces—warmth in our hearts, and adventure on our minds, we begin.
The lights are off, indeed.