To start off, “homeless” is in quotation marks, because maybe “houseless” would be a more correct term. I do have a place to call home. My car! Around the end of July I packed up my little SUV, put some stuff into a storage unit and dropped the rest off at DI. Handing over my apartment keys and housing contract, I took off.
I’ve spent the last 4 months living in my car and have loved it. Working at Zion National Park most days of the week and then traveling, hiking and exploring on the weekends.
This was not a spur of the moment decision, but when the idea originally popped into my head, I chose not to shut it down. The entire month I pondered on it and as I was talking to family members they pointed out a truth I have learned to embrace in my life “If you hate it you can stop whenever you want, but you will never regret giving something an honest try”
I know. Successful people aren’t homeless and living in their cars right? Through my newfound experience, I would beg to differ!
How the majority of the world views success, is widely measured on sticking to the regular defined path:
Graduate high school > Go to college > Graduate & get Married > Start a Career > Have Kids and raise them in a Happy Normal Family
There is nothing wrong with this, in fact, these are all wonderful successful things. But! If you differ from that path at all, you are viewed as a failure. You don’t want to go to college? “What a dropout.” Not married yet? “Probably too stubborn and rebellious to want to settle down.” Don’t want to start a career in what you graduated in? “Good luck supporting a family.” What negative things to accept as truths!
Who says success is fitting into a cookie cutter norm?
Starting and failing a business does not fit into the “Success flow chart” but would we call Bill Gates a failure? He commented on that being a critical step towards his success in the end.
When Lindsey Stirling was voted off America’s Got Talent she commented: “The same reasons I was told I wouldn’t succeed are the reasons people travel hundreds of miles to see me now,” she laughs. “Because it’s different. Because it’s something you haven’t seen before… ”
In a world where it is becoming increasingly hard to not offend anyone (or everyone) with your ideas, it is important that we learn to act on our desires, despite what people may or will say.
I have found more joy and growth in the last 3 months than I could explain. Do I think everybody should move into their cars? No. Unless that is something that excites you, then go for it! Let’s talk, I’ll give you a couple tips.
Do the things that deep down you’ve always wanted to do, cause God gave you those wants for a reason!
Success is not the world’s flow chart. Success has been redefined entirely!
What can you do today to choose to live happier? To choose your own success? Your life is yours to live and yours to love!
“Don’t limit yourself and don’t let others convince you that you are limited in what you can do. Believe in yourself and then live so as to reach your potential” – Thomas S Monson
Author: Kelleen Richins
For more of my writing and insights, follow my blog at cantknockit.blogspot.com. Or find me on Instagram @richinsgirl to follow along on these adventures!
