The Start of Something New
Lauren Schour
When I made the abrupt decision to abandon my life as a 6th grade teacher living in LA, to become a full-time “van lifer” with a side hustle of tutoring, I was met with many questions. What led to this? How are you able to afford it? Where exactly are you going? Do you have a bathroom ... a shower?! Aren’t you scared as a single woman?! Are you sure you actually want to do this full time??!?
There were SO MANY questions and honestly, I didn’t have all of the answers. Even the ones I did have seemed to fall short of fully satisfying inquiries about the transition. This is probably because the decision wasn’t a result of years spent planning for a dream that I always hoped to pursue. This change came when I started listening to, and following my heart. Here I will share the events leading up to this new lifestyle and the ongoing process behind the scenes.
Let’s start with the primary question of what led to this phase in the life of Lauren, Lo Sho, Ms. Schour ... Bruiser Bear, or however else you personally know me. The early months of 2020 were as normal as can be. My days were filled with teaching, dreams of outdoor exploration, indoor rock climbing, and many hours spent on LA freeways. Next thing I knew, March rolled in and everything flipped upside-down. The culmination of a pandemic, the transition to teaching online, and a tough breakup created the perfect storm to inspire a fresh start. While quarantining in Big Bear I was granted the opportunity to be surrounded by nature again. A simple walk out the door, down the street, and there I was. I quickly remembered how important this was to me. This led to the realization that I was less happy than I had myself convinced living in the city. After years of moves motivated by the desire to “make things work” - generally for others - I was learning how to put myself first again. Somehow, I didn’t see that I had been trying to fit my puzzle piece into the entirely wrong puzzle. Lesson learned!
While I day dreamed about what I wanted my life to look like, I was being nailed with questions around the realistic nature and sustainability of this vision. These countering thoughts served an important role in checking my commitment and thoughtfulness, but exposed my insecurities. Overcoming the concern about what everyone else thought was the most critical part of taking charge of my life story. Once I jumped this hurdle, I was surprised by the simplicity of making a major life shift. On the one hand, I saw that I had a ton of work to do and knew there was definite potential for failure. It was risky, exhausting, and I was doing this on my own, which meant I would have to overcome any outcome independently. On the other hand, I could see that all I needed to do was make some decisions about what I wanted, begin turning thought into action, and have a little faith. Ultimately, I chose to focus on “the other hand.” Just like that I quit my job, broke my lease, researched vans, bought a van, sold a ton of crap, moved out of my apartment, put some items in storage, and transitioned my life into a much simpler one that fit inside of a vehicle. This vehicle is now called home. Wild.
So, what’s driving this decision? Having finally let go of my need to look perfect on a resume and appear “put together” to the outer world, I have gained new inspiration and direction to really live my life! I am currently focused on exploring, learning, and growing. I am reevaluating my perspective of what it means to be successful and reconsidering whether my timeline needs to align with those who are of a similar age. I am aiming to develop a deeper understanding of our world, along with an improved appreciation for the people who fill cities and towns I have never heard of. I hope to swim in freezing rivers and boiling hot springs, hike mountains that put me out of my comfort zone, and climb walls that make my legs shake. I want to live so simply that I remember what it feels like to really appreciate a prepared meal, a warm shower, and a bed.
My goals are to improve the skill of being fully present right here and now, to ride the waves of ups and downs more gracefully, and to maintain faith that things are going to work out. For now, you can find me wherever the wind blows.
