10 Things I Learned While Living in a Van

1. All you need are the “Bear” necessities. People need far less material possessions than they think they do. Just like the song and just like the name of our van

2. Adaptability is the ultimate source of freedom.

3. Pursing quality over quantity applies to most all things in life, including: auto parts, training, food, makeup, words, tequila, sightseeing and friendships.

4. Experiences outshine things, every time! In addition to releasing our attachment to material things, we can also release old, stale or default societal ideals to get closer to our true self.

5. It’s not about either where you are going or where you think you should be but rather where you are right NOW. #ClichéButTrue

6. Bad days, don’t have to be bad days. A breakdown can be the exact slowdown you didn’t even know you needed. (See #2 and #5)

7. Build your life around the things that fuel your soul and become infinitely closer to bliss.

8. Even if the worst were to happen, resilience is possible. <- Practicing poverty can be one of the quickest ways to liberate yourself from living in fear. Living in the van was a choice but if it were ever out of necessity, not only could we do it but we could thrive.

9. Nature has just as much power to heel as it does destroy. This era came to us after the deviation of not one but two category five hurricanes in two weeks. To say that I had some heeling and forgiveness to do with Mother Nature would be a gross understatement. This was some pretty deep immersions therapy and turned out to be exactly what I needed.

10. Opportunity and adventure is there for you, as long as you are willing to peruse it.