Gratitude: itโs one of many new things weโve learned to practice in this past (almost) year of full-time vanliving. . Even writing that feels a bit surreal. A few years ago I would have never thought of gratitude as something you need to โpracticeโ let alone focus on. . But gratitude is sort of like any skill. We go to climbing gyms so that our body can learn the movements we will need to successfully scale mountains. Every marathon runner starts with the first mile. The same goes for mental skills like gratitude. The more you focus your mind on gratitude and acceptance the more itโll come back to you when you most need it. . Today as we chug along slowly through Utah on our way to Moab and Indian Creek to meet my (Amanda) sister for a full long weekend of climbing splitter cracks, I canโt help but reflect on our last trip to Moab in early December. . First, our trip got massively delayed due to some work projects lasting longer than expected. Weโd broken down two times in the previous week, which pushed our arrival back even further. Finally, when we did make it to Moab the weather immediately turned from perfect bluebird 60 degree days to highs of 40. Our hot water heater exploded since we didnโt think to drain it (noobs! Also pro tip: if it might get below freezing drain your pipes! Donโt risk it!). . I wonโt say I was perfectly grateful for every bit of that circumstance, but we handled it with much more grace than Amanda of three years prior would have. And well, thatโs progress. . #thevanproject #vanlifer #vanlifejournal #vanlifedreams #vanlifeculture #vanlifesociety #vanlifeadventures #rvlifestyle #rvliving #campervans (at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area)
