Hey babe… What if next summer we set off on an adventure as a family and travel around the country in an RV for a year or two?”
“I could see us doing that,” my wife replied.
A couple of hours later my wife comes to me. “There has to be a bigger reason to do this. Simply traveling the country to see things doesn’t feel like enough.”
I thought for a minute. “What if we use this opportunity to take our work on the road to meet people and hear their stories in person?”
A big smile appears.
This conversation took place late last year and launched us on a path toward a great adventure.
By the following week, we had a lead on a truck and fifth wheel. By the end of the year, we owned it. In February our house was on the market, routes were being discussed, homeschooling information was being researched, and all our extended family had heard about our great adventure.
While we still hadn’t announced our plans on a large scale, everything was in motion.
Fast forward to today… I’m writing this while sitting in my regular home, having sold the truck and fifth wheel a month ago. Our kids are in school. My wife is still working the same job, and I launched a second website yesterday.
What happened?
There were many things that led us to the decision to stay. The main thing we discovered is that with any adventure, dream, plan, or goal of any significant size, you reach a point where you have to decide to go all-in or not at all.
Some “lifestyle design” types might say we caved or gave up on our adventure.
I look at it this way: We reached a point where we had to decide to take a complete leap of faith and just go, or be good stewards of what we had and modify our plans.
We opted for the latter. Does this mean we failed?
Not to me. We learned that life is what you make it.
You don’t have to live life according to how everyone else does or expects—even if that means you don’t go on the adventure or don’t start that company.
You can help create the life you want. You can take a chance, toss your expectations, and live well in your present situation.
According to Robert McKee, all that’s needed in a great story is a character you care about (that’s you), conflict (that’s marriage, relationships, work, giving, service, kids), and a resolution to the conflict (achieving a goal, raising your kids, dating your spouse, shipping the product, creating the art).
You can create a great life right where you are.
Perhaps that means you need to change course or alter your plans. Or, you need to do your job differently. Or, you need to find a different job. Whatever you need to do, lean into your life. Let it do its thing.
Flexing—and changing plans when it’s warranted—doesn’t mean you failed. It just means what it is. You changed your plans.