Are you Creating Your Life…or is Your Life Creating You? – Mel J
From Soccer Mom to Minimalist Nomad in my 50s
Several years ago I went through a tsunami of life challenges that lasted for many years. I went through a divorce (after 24 years of marriage), financial hardship, health issues, major hurricanes, a garage fire, and living alone raising three very active teenagers. A soccer mom.
Perhaps one of the hardest things I faced during these years was losing my mom to pancreatic cancer. She was my closest confidant, my rock, and the most caring person I have ever known.
It was one trying episode after another…
Fortunately, God sent His angels in the form of dear friends, family, community, strangers, and animals (our dog) who reached out to us in many ways with tenderness and love.
I am truly grateful for all the kind and compassionate support and loving gestures we received from everyone near and far.
I never felt alone or down in the dumps so much that I couldn’t recognize all of the blessings and love surrounding me. One time a stranger smiled at me so sincerely that it completely turned my day around!
This gratitude in my heart was a divine sign to carry on with fortitude, strength, and courage.
I believe that life is a game and we are here to learn and grow in the expansion of our consciousness.
The challenges I endured during these midlife years allowed me to recognize that it was time to change directions. After much reflection, introspection, and healing, I chose to begin living authentically, following my passions and joy in every moment. I had nothing to lose!
The phrase I kept saying over and over throughout these harrowing years was, “I just want a simple life.” Thus…. the idea of Livin Simple was born!
I knew, without any doubt, what my heart was calling me to do and I had no idea how or when I was going to do it!
My dream, ever since I was a young girl, was to live freely and simply, traversing the world—a nomad. My dad and I used to read National Geographic Magazine and discuss all of the exotic destinations, cultures, and animals…and we looked forward to watching Wild Kingdom and Jacques Cousteau on TV. Does anyone remember those shows? Exploration has always intrigued me!
Being in nature inspires me.
The natural world awakens my senses to the fullest, opens the channels of creativity, and brings synchronicity, peace, and clarity to my life. Most of my important life decisions were made outside in nature, mostly by water.
So, towards the latter part of my difficult years, I began to trust and follow my intuition more than ever before. The first step I took to simplify my life was to begin letting go of material things. This was a gradual process that took about 2 1/2 years to complete.
After my divorce, I moved from a large suburban house to a much smaller beachside condo. A year and a half later, I downsized even more. After another round of donating most of my belongings, I put the rest in storage. Then, I moved to a friend’s small cabin in the forest in the middle of nowhere.
Not long after moving into the cabin, however, my plans of living a subdued life came to a halt. After receiving my adult daughter’s encouragement and blessing, I decided to hit the road full-time! My deepest desire to live a nomadic life came to fruition!
Currently, I am enjoying life and laughing more than ever (mostly at myself!) I live simply and lightly, traveling with my Subaru Outback to America’s most beautiful natural landscapes and towns.
My boyfriend, Eben, travels with me. We share many of the same values and passions in life and most importantly, we encourage one another to live our best lives!
It’s not always easy living this lifestyle. No sugar-coating it…there are challenges. However, having the freedom and flexibility to move around the country is why I do this. Visiting family, friends, and spending time in beautiful landscapes makes my soul smile. Sometimes I wonder how I transformed from a soccer mom to a minimalist nomad in such a short amount of time. I now realize my diverse life experiences have shaped who I am today.
What Does the Future Hold?
We will take our adventures overseas in the coming years. I’ve always wanted to travel in a camper van throughout New Zealand, and parts of Europe and also visit Eben’s home country of South Africa.
At some point down the road, who knows when?… I look forward to finding a physical home guided by my heart. Perhaps a tiny home or cabin in a scenic, natural setting not far from a quaint downtown.