This is the first post in a new series I’m calling Reader Stories—a space to share real-life accounts of what it means to break away from convention and create a life on your own terms.
I love everything about this so much. Somebody just asked me yesterday “what’s next?” and I said “finishing my book and finding a lil place in these mountains where I can grow my own food, root half the year and hit the road the other half.” It IS all about being open it seems. And clarity around what’s important to us.
Haha, thank you! It’s been quite a journey, that’s for sure! What I discovered though is, wherever you go, there you are: the real journey happens within. Always. And: it’s never too late✨
I was reading this post and then these comments. Was going to write independently, that more power and love to you Becki but then I noticed these last two comments. Journeys within... I was a bit surprised because I just published a travel memoir with the title Journeys Beyond and Within... haha! What a thought we all must have had. The book is about my most unusual adventures, mostly solo, but, of course, about the journeys within...
Becki, I live in Kentucky and have a deep affinity for Appalachia. I long for the life you’re leading. Everyday I imagine selling everything I own and getting the hell out of Dodge. Sun, soil, air, water, REST, walks…and never, ever, beholden to anyone. Oh, it runs deep, doesn’t it? We just want to return to our wild nature where simplicity governs and our intuition leads. My hard shell is breaking open, I can feel it. Loving everything you wrote! So happy you found your way!
Ohmygoodness, thank you! I got goosebumps reading your words, too. My family is all from Kentucky! I get it and yes it DOES run deep. I just couldn’t NOT anymore…grateful everyday for the life I’m choosing for myself!
It’s not - obviously - been without a lot of bumps in the road; my work now is allowing all of those hard-won lessons to come through for those also taking the leap. With perhaps a bit more grounding than I had at the time! But every bit of it has been sacred to me and I want nothing more than for everyone called to this path to feel held in their choice to take it!
Scott, thank you so much for this opportunity to reconnect with my story and share it with others called to this path. The space you’re creating here is powerful and I’m inspired! And I can’t wait to read others’ stories of taking the leap and finding their own connection in nature. It IS the medicine🙌
Thank you, Becki. I'm excited too. Thanks for sharing your story. It looks like it's already inspiring others in this community! This is going to be so much fun.😊❤️
Thank you both - Scott & Becky! Such inspiring and like others, I am on a similar path. It is wonderful to connect with others without attachment! Love how you worded that!
Lucky and courageous you. Proud of you. I’m 80 now and your “place” is where my soul too resides, but in my longings. Nature and the mountains have always been my place for inner and total peace. Prayers for your continued journey.
It just reminded me how badly I wanted to live in mountains, growing my own veggies, body-clock aligned with nature. Turns out, all it takes is to take that leap of faith.
Brady! I just read your CR story and your Dengue Diaries yo…SO similar. I got Dengue in the first 6 mos of being in the Caribbean. The aftermath was almost as brutal as the almost-dying part. So glad you commented here and I got to read some of your work. Thank you for sharing!
Oh crazy! I’m not prone to big mood swings but I was seriously depressed post Dengue. What was your experience like? Where in the Caribbean? I posted a story about my brief time dayworking and crewing on yachts in Antigua and another about sailing across the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.
Oh sweet; I’ll have to check those out too. I love Antigua!
I lived on St. John for about 4 years, St. Croix for a year and was all over the Caribbean during those 5 years.
But yes, super-depressed after Dengue. I think for me though it was more PTSD actually. My fever peaked at 105; I was SO sick - and totally alone - for three weeks that honestly, when I finally came to again, I think I was just in shock for a while. Totally mimicked depression though for sure. My brain was NOT on line. For weeks. It was def rough to say the least.
Luckily when I came to, I found the whole world had been shut down by Covid and the island was on “lockdown.” Which basically meant those of us living there had all that beauty to ourselves for months on end. It was—in stark contrast to what was going on Stateside—like living in a dream state. That helped me recover more quickly for sure! Nothin more healing to me than those Caribbean Blues✨
I love love love trailblazers and have stepped out of corporate myself been a wild ride but I’m still standing and in massage school to truly align with my divine embracing my light to illuminate a path for another //Forgiving others and wishing them well giving thanks and helping anyone I can while taking the best care of myself as I know how and that’s a journey no one else can take
Your words Beckie read like I was writing them ❤️I so resonate with the natural order of things and better understand more and more each day what I actually need - when I stop a second from spinning i can ask and understand what I need to heal / how to keep growing and learning and encourage oneself - to keep going and then help another
I believe that’s All we are here for on this earth IMO love is the key
Boy as a species we are in trouble
Glad I know how to row toward the helpers and away from the rocks
This is what they mean by the song,” I’m Leaving on a jet Plane.”
Miss John Denver.
Wonderful how we can gravitate towards change if we lean in and hear our inner child. We can be safe and move out of our comfort zone without conforming to 4 walls and a roof! Roots can be initiated elsewhere. Water , sunlight, and soil. 🌏
Perhaps the change looks like a hybrid approach. 🌻
Time for a walk and time to listen to my inner child’s voice!
I have done the same. Now age 80, I'm living on a small farm in a tiny house growing food that we give to those who need it.
In the process i find i'm coming home to myself. Has nothing to do with being 'young'; has everything to do with being open
I love everything about this so much. Somebody just asked me yesterday “what’s next?” and I said “finishing my book and finding a lil place in these mountains where I can grow my own food, root half the year and hit the road the other half.” It IS all about being open it seems. And clarity around what’s important to us.
Becky, you go girl! Wish I was healthy and younger and could do the same thing… 💕
Haha, thank you! It’s been quite a journey, that’s for sure! What I discovered though is, wherever you go, there you are: the real journey happens within. Always. And: it’s never too late✨
I have embarked on a journey within! 💕
I was reading this post and then these comments. Was going to write independently, that more power and love to you Becki but then I noticed these last two comments. Journeys within... I was a bit surprised because I just published a travel memoir with the title Journeys Beyond and Within... haha! What a thought we all must have had. The book is about my most unusual adventures, mostly solo, but, of course, about the journeys within...
Thank you for this exchange :)
This story resonated deeply. Living, instead of just existing, is the only way.
Come on! HALLELUYAH! That’s AWESOME! I love it!!!! Less is so more right?!?!?
Becki, I live in Kentucky and have a deep affinity for Appalachia. I long for the life you’re leading. Everyday I imagine selling everything I own and getting the hell out of Dodge. Sun, soil, air, water, REST, walks…and never, ever, beholden to anyone. Oh, it runs deep, doesn’t it? We just want to return to our wild nature where simplicity governs and our intuition leads. My hard shell is breaking open, I can feel it. Loving everything you wrote! So happy you found your way!
Ohmygoodness, thank you! I got goosebumps reading your words, too. My family is all from Kentucky! I get it and yes it DOES run deep. I just couldn’t NOT anymore…grateful everyday for the life I’m choosing for myself!
It’s not - obviously - been without a lot of bumps in the road; my work now is allowing all of those hard-won lessons to come through for those also taking the leap. With perhaps a bit more grounding than I had at the time! But every bit of it has been sacred to me and I want nothing more than for everyone called to this path to feel held in their choice to take it!
Scott, thank you so much for this opportunity to reconnect with my story and share it with others called to this path. The space you’re creating here is powerful and I’m inspired! And I can’t wait to read others’ stories of taking the leap and finding their own connection in nature. It IS the medicine🙌
Thank you, Becki. I'm excited too. Thanks for sharing your story. It looks like it's already inspiring others in this community! This is going to be so much fun.😊❤️
Thank you both - Scott & Becky! Such inspiring and like others, I am on a similar path. It is wonderful to connect with others without attachment! Love how you worded that!
Becki, I'd love to meet and chat. Check out my podcast at BumpInTheRoad.us and BumpInTheRoad.Substack.com
Great story!
Oh sweet; I’ll definitely check it out and be in touch…thank you!
Email: Talk@BumpInTheRoad.us
Lucky and courageous you. Proud of you. I’m 80 now and your “place” is where my soul too resides, but in my longings. Nature and the mountains have always been my place for inner and total peace. Prayers for your continued journey.
It just reminded me how badly I wanted to live in mountains, growing my own veggies, body-clock aligned with nature. Turns out, all it takes is to take that leap of faith.
Hi Scott, this is great! I think we have a lot of crossover! https://substack.com/@brady893451/note/c-124750068?r=2kuu37&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
I sold everything and moved my family to Costa Rica.
Brady! I just read your CR story and your Dengue Diaries yo…SO similar. I got Dengue in the first 6 mos of being in the Caribbean. The aftermath was almost as brutal as the almost-dying part. So glad you commented here and I got to read some of your work. Thank you for sharing!
Oh crazy! I’m not prone to big mood swings but I was seriously depressed post Dengue. What was your experience like? Where in the Caribbean? I posted a story about my brief time dayworking and crewing on yachts in Antigua and another about sailing across the Caribbean and through the Panama Canal.
Oh sweet; I’ll have to check those out too. I love Antigua!
I lived on St. John for about 4 years, St. Croix for a year and was all over the Caribbean during those 5 years.
But yes, super-depressed after Dengue. I think for me though it was more PTSD actually. My fever peaked at 105; I was SO sick - and totally alone - for three weeks that honestly, when I finally came to again, I think I was just in shock for a while. Totally mimicked depression though for sure. My brain was NOT on line. For weeks. It was def rough to say the least.
Luckily when I came to, I found the whole world had been shut down by Covid and the island was on “lockdown.” Which basically meant those of us living there had all that beauty to ourselves for months on end. It was—in stark contrast to what was going on Stateside—like living in a dream state. That helped me recover more quickly for sure! Nothin more healing to me than those Caribbean Blues✨
Incredible!
I love love love trailblazers and have stepped out of corporate myself been a wild ride but I’m still standing and in massage school to truly align with my divine embracing my light to illuminate a path for another //Forgiving others and wishing them well giving thanks and helping anyone I can while taking the best care of myself as I know how and that’s a journey no one else can take
Your words Beckie read like I was writing them ❤️I so resonate with the natural order of things and better understand more and more each day what I actually need - when I stop a second from spinning i can ask and understand what I need to heal / how to keep growing and learning and encourage oneself - to keep going and then help another
I believe that’s All we are here for on this earth IMO love is the key
Boy as a species we are in trouble
Glad I know how to row toward the helpers and away from the rocks
what’s right about life is in our hearts
I'm in love with this
This resonated so much! Not just the practical stepping away from stuff and status but the spiritual journey too. Thanks for sharing😊
What a great read 🤌
becki!!!! epic and inspiring truth telling 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
Thank you, thank you…sometimes it all feels a wee bit wild, but then I remember: we ARE of the wild🔥
The Dollar Tree reimagined!
This is what they mean by the song,” I’m Leaving on a jet Plane.”
Miss John Denver.
Wonderful how we can gravitate towards change if we lean in and hear our inner child. We can be safe and move out of our comfort zone without conforming to 4 walls and a roof! Roots can be initiated elsewhere. Water , sunlight, and soil. 🌏
Perhaps the change looks like a hybrid approach. 🌻
Time for a walk and time to listen to my inner child’s voice!
Lovely story . 🙏
This gave me goosebumps: my mom used to sing that song to me all the time when I was young🥰
Inspiring!