3 Weird Things Van-life Made Me Do

I have been a van-lifer for four years now, and it has challenged me in every way possible and made me do some pretty weird things.

I have changed clothes in Walmart parking lots, I have been lost in the woods for hours, I have slept in the desert.

However, apart from the extraordinary experiences, van-life has given me some amazing lessons on life.

Here are the three most profound things that van-life made me do that I would have never expected.

1. Think differently

Van-life made me think differently, firstly about myself, but that extends to everyone and everything else. I would have never guessed that I had the ability to do all the things that I do now.

You have to be careful about the way you talk and think about yourself, about what follows after the words “I am”, since words are material, and as long as you see and call yourself stupid, lazy, unable, or unworthy, this is what you will be.

It is crucial to review your statements and replace those with things about yourself that are positive. If it feels too hard to go directly from “I am ugly” to “I am beautiful”, replace it with something that is more true of yourself in the moment, like “I am starting to reflect on the outside how I feel on the inside”.

Replace “I am lazy” with “I am becoming mindful of the ways that I need to rest in order to have a productive day”. This subtle shift in framing is profound. Bonus points if you start to do that with other people, too.

In the same way, the way we see ourselves is affected by whatever we pay attention to and let into our mind. Be conscious about what you are reading, watching and listening too, because all of those things can have a profound effect on the way you perceive yourself and feel about yourself.

Make sure to surround yourself with pieces of media that make you the best version of yourself. I like listening to podcasts that teach me new things or change my perspectives on things, in order to expand my mind.

2. Be more active

As a van-lifer, I have become more active with my body and with my hands. I remember first realizing I could do anything I wanted.

This was also when I also realized that the things that I wanted to do and that made me happy were the simpler things, like taking a long walk, sitting by a campfire with someone or watching a sunset on my deck. I began seeing those little things as my purpose, with a little “p”.

Instead of chasing after some imagined accomplishments, like spending hours at the gym, to prove myself worthy of living, I turned to things that I could stick with because they made me feel good and made me happy, like consistently going for walks.

Instead of telling myself to only eat healthy and cut out all the bad foods, I focused on healthy foods that I enjoy and can benefit from over time.

Simply smiling at someone, or writing a letter, or reaching out to someone you haven't talked to in a while, can make your day.

The small, seemingly insignificant, but purposeful actions are what makes our lives worth living and makes the world a better place.

3. Feel my feelings

Van-life has regulated my nervous system enough to see more clearly and allow myself to feel whatever it is I am feeling. In a lot of circumstances before, I may have been reacting to a person or a situation for what it was doing to me, rather than how I feel and how I want to feel throughout this day.

Instead, I now know how to check in with myself constantly. If I am going down the road and somebody cuts me off or beeps at me, I am more likely to wonder what happened to them today, because I know that was really uncalled for.

In the past, I would have felt like I had done something wrong. If I am in an unwanted situation that I am not enjoying, I will just walk away, instead of letting it affect me.

As I said before, I am a lot more intentional now about who I listen to and what I let in. If the things I surround myself with and the people I hang out with are not making me a better version of myself, then I need to question what I am doing.

In slowing down, spending some time in solitude, I really have gotten more in touch with my feelings, and that was totally unexpected.

Van-life

These are the three extraordinary life lessons that van-life has taught me. If you are a van-lifer, how have your habits and thinking patterns changed since you have gotten on the road? Did it change your life for the better?

Also, what are your van-life essentials? Share your stories with me in the comment section below!