We Need to Instill Adventure Into Women Instead of Fear

When I told people that I was planning to live in a van and drive around the country, I was met with a lot of advice. Almost all of it was about being safe and how I should be afraid of so many things while I’m out here.

Sleeping at truck stops? Be afraid.

Sleeping out in the woods? Be afraid.

Sleeping in an urban area? Be afraid.

The van might break down. The weather might turn.

You might run into bad people. You might be alone.

Be afraid.

I lived in a city for over ten years before choosing to embark on this journey. I’ve lived in apartments that whole time. Only one had a security door and it was always broken.

Someone was stabbed four blocks from my apartment. A pair of my coworkers were mugged two blocks from where I lived. I’ve heard fights and drunken misadventures from my window.

Living in a city is dangerous. But we don’t think twice about people living there.

Being a small and female person, I could tell that the concerns for my safety were well-meant, but they were about telling me to live my life in a cocoon. To focus my life on being safe.

Women are told too often to not do things because it’s not safe.

Men are told to be bold, reach out and take what they want, to go find adventure, be brave and have courage, to face life.

Women are told to be careful, watch themselves, to be safe.

Living a safe life may be for some people. The American Dream is about safety and security ultimately. A safe life is predictable and comfortable.

But it can also be stifling and boring. Soul-crushing.

Why don’t we tell women to have adventures? To go out there and find your passion. Live boldly and loudly. Be brave!

Yes, bad things might happen. Only a fool would try to tell you that there aren’t bad people out there doing bad things. Sometimes negative things just happen because that’s life.

The possibility of bad things happening is no reason not to live!

As I write this, I am at a gathering of female nomads in the Arizona desert. Over 1,000 women of various ages, ethnicities, and life stages are out here to live their lives on their terms.

I finally decided that I’m not going to have the life I want unless I go out and get it.

This is not about bashing men. They should go off and have adventures, build their lives, and explore the world.

Women should be encouraged and supported to do the same. Have adventures. Build lives. Explore the world.

I have no idea how long I’m going to be doing this. Until I decide to do something else. But I will have experiences and memories that I would not otherwise.

This is your life. Right now. Go get it.