Why in the world am I taking this trip?

The better question is why not?

Last year I spent a lot of time getting really honest with myself. For those who have followed my personal journey (or even seen the difference in my photos), you know I changed pretty significantly last year. After years of making up excuses I took my health into my own hands. I have some pretty significant issues between my heart, chronic migraines and infertility. For one reason or another I had steadily gained weight over the last 15 years. I finally reached rock bottom with migraines. After trying everything else, and having my cardiologist sternly tell me I needed to lose weight, I decided to change my eating habits. I started eating clean and by the end of the year I had lost about 35 lbs. More importantly, I felt great. My migraines had almost disappeared and I had a new sense of energy.

This year I’m continuing to focus on myself. While last year was about being raw and honest to get rid of excuses, this year is about strength. I want to get physically and mentally strong. After being in a partnership for 19 years, I realize that I’ve become quite dependent on Josh. i’m sure that is normal in a marriage but I question my ability a lot. For me, this trip is about proving to myself that I am strong enough to take on new challenges, put myself in uncomfortable situations (not safety-wise) and give myself the space to grow. I also really want to show other women that they can do stuff out of their comfort zone. I know nothing about offloading or living out of a car or traversing the country with two kids. We’ll figure it out.

The other big reason I decided to do this trip was the desire to connect with my kids more. I know that there will be times when we all wonder why we did this. But my hope is that these shared experiences will create a bond and memories that unbreakable. I hope it allows each of us to connect with ourselves, each other and nature in a way that we simply couldn’t without getting out there and exploring.