New beginnings can be scary. Sometimes they come without warning, and sometimes they're long overdue. When it became clear that my marriage was ending, I felt paralyzed. I had nothing to look forward to and life felt overwhelming.

In hopes of simplifying my life, I bought a Sprinter van, pared down my possessions to only what would fit inside it, and set out on a spontaneous drive across the country. My 43-day adventure led me through 20 states, spanned more than 10,000 miles, and gave me the space to reimagine my future. But more than anything, it helped me recover my sense of personal sovereignty.

The experience also taught me that sometimes the process of letting go is more about holding onto the things you love most.

Travel is good medicine.

During that cross-country trip, I grieved, I wrestled with forgiveness, and I slowly reclaimed my sense of personal sovereignty. While on the road, I deepened my self-care practice to the point that I slowly began to feel alive again.

In this book, I share some of my greatest life lessons from the road, and how I transitioned from living in survival mode to becoming the designer of my life.

If just one person feels empowered enough after reading this to life themselves up out of the darkness, then it will be worth the discomfort I felt sharing some of my personal truths. This trip was one of the greatest experiences of my life, and I hope that it offers you hope and encouragement if you happen to be facing a similar turning point in your life.

Have you ever come to a crossroads in your life where you weren't sure where to go next?