Many bloggers mention how great this sort of experience is and show us a few images of it, which causes us to be invaded by curiosity while also experiencing a little paradoxical sensation of dissatisfaction as we try to comprehend these explorers’ motivations.
As a result, I pose the following questions: why does this sort of foreign experience, even if it is just for a few while, leave us with a sense of emptiness and the sensation that something is missing? Is it possible to have a strong yearning to live somewhere else, living a different sort of life? Is this a true story? Or do we simply become perplexed when we read these stories, which causes us to question how pleased we are with what we do in our everyday lives and with the route we have chosen in life up to this point?
This leads us to consider the messages that the media conveys to us, as well as the influence that these messages have on the way we create ourselves and our vision of the world. It is well understood that this information just represents one half of the reality, and we utilize this knowledge to help us avoid feeling distressed in the future if anything like this happens.
We have not yet fully absorbed this form of analysis, and our emotional reaction mechanisms are not always led by a condition of maximal consciousness, as has been suggested in the previous section. Despite the fact that we are aware that there is more to history than what we are told, it is easy to fall into the trap, of summing the complexity of reality by starting with a photograph and leaving out all of the factors that contributed to it occurring in some manner.
Now, what is being attempted to demonstrate with this narrative is the complicated structure that allows for the display of a gorgeous snapshot, but which in fact is only a small part of the overall trip’s construction.
As a result, if I tried to write only about how fantastic it is to ride in a Van, I would wind up falling into the same pitfalls that I have previously described in this article. Do these kinds of clichés? not seem to be oversaturated on the internet? Furthermore, the motive for producing this article is to share the lessons learned from the experience and to demonstrate how it may be used to a life other than the #vanlife.
1. You are more capable than you believe yourself to be.
Although I had no prior experience with vehicles, the necessity, as seen from this vantage point, puts us to the test and allows us to do things that we had previously believed were beyond our capabilities. My lack of understanding about mechanics and automobiles didn’t stop me from purchasing a van that allowed me to travel across Eastern Europe for eight months, and this, more than anything else, amazed me personally. In spite of the fact that I was unsure of what questions to pose to the guy who sold me the Van regarding its condition, I chose to go ahead and do it since, after all is said and done, whatever you desire is what matters.
2. Your van is a reflection of your personality.
When you purchase your first van, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with the decision of what type of build to do. I understand that there are a plethora of videos, Instagram feeds, and photographs that are overwhelming you. Despite the fact that it may be tempting to simply replicate what someone else has done, doing so will not make the van life trip any more enjoyable. Make something unique (not something off the shelf) and utilize your empty van as a blank canvas on which to display your personality and style. The fact that you are treating your DIY campervan as an empty canvas on which you may do whatever you want will cause you to fall even more in love with your van.
3. Make your everyday routine more manageable.
Doing a lot of things does not always imply that you are getting the most out of them. Because of the nature of living in a van, every action takes place at a leisurely pace. The act of making a cup of tea and then consuming it has become a ritual, as each step demands work and a certain level of understanding. After reading this, I started thinking about what I truly needed to accomplish on a daily basis and how I might make my life a little bit easier. While living in a van, there are several activities that are no longer required to perform. If I am content to eat from a small box of food for several days, why do I require a fully stocked refrigerator at all times? If I am capable of being clean and dressed without regard to my appearance, why do I require a mirror to determine whether or not I am ready to leave the house, which brings me onto the next point.
4. People make life complicated when it should be simple.
Moving into a van, without a doubt, will make your life easier. It is less stressful to live a live a simplified life. When I hear individuals whining about problems that they themselves created, I find myself laughing. What if it didn’t matter how great your thing looked, but simply how well it served its purpose? People spend a lot of money on great things, but it takes a lot of effort to keep them looking nice.
For example, eating out instead of preparing food at home, adds to the complexity of life. When you truly think about it, the only things we require in life are food, water, and shelter. To be completely honest, I’ve met folks who live in tents and out of their backpacks, and even living in a van looked complicated in comparison to their surrounding circumstances. Simplicity is a beautiful thing. We all require a certain level of complication from time to time, but don’t make your life any more complicated than it really should be.
5. Nature versus the digital.
Although many people believe that being without access to digital media is painful, for me, being without power forced me to recognize how those distractions prevented me from establishing a connection with myself. Consequently, I witnessed the dragonfly copulation ritual; I witnessed how an army of tireless ants delivered food to their little homes; I witnessed a thunderstorm erupt on the horizon of the sea, and I appreciated the rhythm that it created in each explosion; and although witnessing a storm of this type from a Van is unmatched, I also realized that we do not notice the natural phenomena that they tend to surround us and appear on a daily basis, because we simply do not stop to observe them All we have to do now is learn to pay attention to and listen to our environment.
6. The fact that you are waking up in the middle of nature alters the trajectory of your day.
I really appreciated being able to wake up, open the door, and see the mountains or the sea as the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. This sensation progressively developed into a type of attitude in me, allowing me to be able to concentrate and live in the present moment, and to be content with that situation. Now that I have returned to my normal life, it can be difficult for me to wake up in the morning, deal with the cold, or deal with other factors, but I always try to breathe and remember that there is something bigger than me, which helps me to have perspective and realize that I am a very small part of something much larger.
7. The availability of electricity has an impact on one’s perception of time.
The fact that I didn’t have to worry about the time of day or night when my Van was parked, aside from a couple of batteries for the flashlight and a few candles to cook with, came down to the fact that I didn’t have to worry about when the sun rose or set. Moreover, it means that there aren’t many things to do, other than maybe read a little and go to bed around 8pm, depending on where you live and the time of year, but more than that, it has happened that my rhythm has become linked to the rhythm of nature, and I no longer require an alarm clock or anything like that. Now that I am no longer in that natural rhythm, I attempt to preserve it by leaving my curtains open in the morning so that the sun wakes me up, reducing my usage of electricity at night, even if it means just using candles, and exercising regularly.
8. Keep things in perspective and don’t take anything for granted.
I used to consider myself fortunate to have comforts such as running water, a warm and secure home, but when you live in a van, you understand that you cannot take these things for granted. I recall the nights I couldn’t sleep because I was worried about my safety, the time someone attempted to get into my van when I was parked in a remote location, and the several occasions when I had to restrict my water supply since I couldn’t take more than a specific quantity. Since then, anytime I get the opportunity to take a hot shower, sleep peacefully and safely in my bed, or drink clean water, I have been thankful.
9. The fear is not a result of your previous experiences.
Fear has a significant impact on your ability to appreciate your experience, which is one that you will not be able to repeat. Fear, rather than actual danger, is, in my opinion, more widespread. To be completely honest, we have no idea when this will be delivered, let alone how we will react to it. Therefore, I deliberately undermined myself on multiple occasions and allowed my mind to go wild with horrific things that I read in the press or that individuals said to me. Putting aside what others have to say and achieving that sense of calm is difficult, and it is something that I am still working on.
10. Even with limited resources, there is much.
Living in a van improved my capacity to feel entire, even when I was in locations I didn’t particularly enjoy. After arriving at a location that did not appear to be very promising for a night’s sleep, it turned out to be one of the most welcoming afternoons I’d ever spent in a humid truck station, complete with beautiful company, candles, loud music and a couple of bites to eat, it turned out to be one of the best moments of my life.
The manner in which things are presented and connected to our conception of the ideal may not always be consistent; nonetheless, the key thing is the manner in which we choose to embrace the things that are offered to us and so transform the ordinary into one of the most memorable experiences.
11. Loneliness and company are not conducive to happiness.
Traveling alone undoubtedly aided me in achieving this. There will be no interruptions, voices, or other influences from outside sources. It allowed me to reconnect with my natural state of thinking, emotion, and behavior, but the climax of this process happens when we allow ourselves to connect with others as a consequence of this experience.
During my journey, there were times when I believed my experience may have achieved its zenith if I’d been in decent company to discuss it with. In contrast to the times when he felt the melancholy of a natural instinct, of the urge to pick the companionship at specific times, he did not feel this way now.
After going through this process, I came to the conclusion that none of the two moods would totally fill me with delight, and that a happy medium should be discovered between loneliness and company. The event was made more delightful by the fact that it was shared by everyone involved.
Related Link: Vanlife Essentials
