Eleven Years of Unknown Roads: What Struggle Taught Me That Safety Never Could

11 years ago, we did something NOT that crazy, actually. We got rid of all our non-essentials— ugly sweaters, yearbooks, extra blankets, and toys. We put our furniture in storage and moved into our RV for what we thought was going to be just 5 months. But over those 5 months, something incredible happened— I discovered …

What if the reason you don’t fit in isn’t that something is wrong with you — but because you were never meant to? This is lesson three in the things I learned growing up traveling full-time as a teenager — lessons most of us aren’t taught, but probably should be. When my family moved into …

Most people think feeling lost in life is a bad thing. Like it means you’re behind.Like something is wrong.Like you should hurry up and “figure it out.” But what if feeling lost is actually the sign that you’re alive? When I was a teenager traveling full-time with my family, we didn’t try to avoid the …

There was a summer when I came home from my bartending job, sat on my bed, and just stared at my life. I had been hustling to build my business with no financial progress.I didn’t really have friends.I was single and cynical about it.Even my family relationships were starting to feel heavy instead of joyful. …

I remember laying in bed in our tiny RV — Momo — trying not to cry. I was 14, 15, 16 years old, and I felt deeply disliked by the world. Rejected. Invisible. Hurt. And like most of us are taught to do, I shoved it all down. I had learned somewhere along the way …

Most people treat fear like a stop sign. They say, “I’m scared,” and that’s the end of the story. But fear isn’t an ending — it’s a decision point. And the way you treat fear determines whether it controls your life… or becomes the doorway to everything you want. This is lesson five of what …

For most of my life, competition was the structure of my world. From the time I was little, I was immersed in competitive sports — club soccer, gymnastics, and eventually surfing. My parents owned a gymnastics facility, so I was tumbling before I could even walk. Sports came naturally to me, and at first, I …

Rejection only hurts when you’ve outsourced your sense of worth to someone else. That was one of the biggest lessons I learned growing up traveling full-time as a teenager — and it’s something most of us were never taught. When people reject us, it feels personal. It feels like proof that we weren’t good enough. …

When we sold almost everything we owned in 2015 and moved into an RV with five kids, we thought we were choosing freedom. And in many ways, we were. But what we didn’t realize was this: Travel doesn’t fix your problems. It amplifies them. When you remove routine, comfort, distractions, and stability, whatever is unresolved …

What if the reason you don’t fit in isn’t because something is wrong with you — but because you were never meant to? This is lesson three in the things I learned growing up traveling full-time as a teenager — lessons most of us aren’t taught, but probably should be. When my family moved into …

Most people gain wisdom through hardship. They go through heartbreak, failure, burnout, and loss — and only then look back and say, “I wish my younger self knew this.” But for me, life kind of worked backwards. At 14 years old, my parents did something most people would call crazy. They sold everything we owned, …

Welcome to episode 4 of Defy the Norm with Nomads with a Purpose! Today, I’m bringing on my five favorite weirdos to talk about why “normal” people send their kids to school and what our homeschooling, road-schooling, world-schooling life really looks like. Meet the Family Let me introduce you to the crew: What Homeschooling Really …

When Isabel came home from the Tour du Mont Blanc last summer, I noticed something different about her. It wasn’t just the photos or the stories—it was the way she carried herself. She had discovered something most people spend their entire lives searching for: her voice. This trek wasn’t just about hiking 108 miles through …

The Journey Begins When you dream of adventure, sometimes the best stories come from the most unexpected moments. This is the tale of our family’s transformative trip to Norway in 2016—a journey that would change our perspective on what’s truly possible in life. The adventure started with careful planning (well, sort of). Armed with backpacks, …

Shame is a silent predator that lurks in the shadows of our minds, whispering lies about our worth and potential. It’s the invisible chain that keeps us trapped in a cycle of self-doubt, preventing us from living authentically and embracing our true selves. But what if you could break free from these mental handcuffs? What …

In a world that often glorifies hustle culture and endless productivity, we’ve forgotten the most essential ingredient to a truly fulfilling life: fun. Imagine waking up each morning not with a sense of dread or obligation, but with genuine excitement about the day ahead. This isn’t a fantasy—it’s a possible reality that requires a radical …

Gift Ideas For Hikers That Are Fun + Thoughtful Nomadik Subscription Box The Nomadik is an awesome monthly subscription box made for hikers, adventurers, road trippers, and everything in between! Filled with gear, accessories, multi-tools, adventure snacks, survival tips, travel guides, and inspiration that your hiker friends and family will love! Water Bottle + Stickers Many …

Most parents believe teen rebellion is inevitable — that it’s “just normal” for teenagers to pull away, shut down, or want nothing to do with the family. But here’s the truth:Teen disconnection is common, but it is not normal — and it is absolutely preventable. After raising five kids, three of whom are already adults …