You Don't Have To Leap To Go Far

In the past month, the structure of my life has completely changed. I quit my full-time job and left the Pacific Northwest, a place that's been home my entire life. I moved out of an urban apartment and into a van my partner and I kitted out into an adventure camper. I traded in stability-- a career I'd been building, a stable address, and habits that (for better or worse) I was used to-- for the uncertainty of the road: from daily income to where we sleep each night. Given the interesting and exciting circumstances of this chapter, some folks have asked how it is that we made the leap to living out of our van full-time.

““Don’t get hung up on the leap. You don’t have to leap to go far.””

When people ask about "the leap", what the conversation typically circles around is how we saved money, where we use the bathroom, and if it's actually possible to live with your partner in a 19-foot van. We get tactical. We get nitty gritty, and that can be helpful. But it doesn't really answer the question. When someone asks me about "the leap" to a new life (whatever it may be), what I want to say is this: 

Don't get hung up on the leap. You don't have to leap to go far.

Now, don't get me wrong-- building the van and making this adventure possible took dreams, resources, faith, and some gutsy ambitions. But more than that, it took a lot of time and consistency. Months-- and yes, years-- building, saving, planning, and patiently waiting. Painting that more accurate picture is not as exciting as talking about "the leap". Leaping implies force, and height, and a propulsion. But taking our time to intentionally set and reach a goal got us to the same place, with the added benefit of space and time for reflection along the way. I don't want to give leaping a bad name. There's a time and a place for the right person and situation. But it's not for everyone, and to think that "the leap" is the only way to reach your goals is just not true.

“taking our time to intentionally set and reach a goal got us to the same place, with the added benefit of space and time for reflection along the way.”

When you dream, take comfort in knowing that you can get there a step at a time. You can leap if you want to, but you don't have to. So don't get hung up on the leap. When you're moving in the direction of your dreams, that's all that matters, and you can get there however you want-- leap, walk, skip, or dance. You'll get there just the same.