The Day I Finally Left: Beginning My Road Trip Adventure
Hi, my name is Audrey. It’s July 21, 2024, and today I did something I’ve been dreaming about for over a decade—I packed up my car, broke my lease, and left. No plans, no destination, just me, my car, and the open road. I’m breaking free from my old life to finally discover who I am.
Breaking Free
For years, I’ve been stuck in a cycle of misery, trying to make things work in Seattle. It’s a beautiful city that I love deeply, but it hasn’t been the right place for me. The isolation, the performative culture, the relentless expense of just existing—it’s worn me down.
A week ago, I asked my property manager to break my lease. I’d been thinking about it for a while, but something clicked. I realized I could either keep spending $1,300 a month on rent to stay unhappy or take a chance and do something new.
So I let go.
Breaking Free from Seattle
Leaving wasn’t easy. Yesterday, I hit one hurdle after another. First, my car had a flat tire with a gaping hole in the sidewall. Then, I discovered that three of my four tires were damaged, forcing me to replace all of them. It was stressful, and I found myself screaming in frustration in a Costco parking lot. But eventually, I found a local tire shop with good tires and a warranty. That small win felt like a miracle.
After that, I had to pack the car. I threw away half of my belongings and left random things behind, like my old bed and even a tire by the trash. It was chaotic and exhausting, but it was freeing. Letting go of material things reminded me of how much I’ve held onto for the sake of appearances or out of fear of change.
Hitting the Road
Now, I’m at a rest stop outside of Vancouver, Washington. My car is packed with everything I own, and it’s officially my home for the foreseeable future. I don’t know where I’m going yet—maybe Oregon, maybe California—but I know I’m not going back to Seattle.
This isn’t just a road trip. It’s an opportunity to figure out what I really want. Do I want to finish my degree? Do I even want to go to London? Or do I want to create a completely different life for myself?
Learning to Let Go
One of the biggest lessons I’ve already learned is to stop giving my power away to other people. I’ve spent so much of my life worrying about what others think of me—whether I’m too messy, too loud, too much. Today, I parked my car behind someone else’s at my old apartment, something I never would’ve done before for fear of being “in the way.” When they asked me to move, it was annoying, but I didn’t let it ruin my day.
It feels good to let go of those small anxieties and to embrace the chaos of this journey. Sorting through my car in a Goodwill parking lot, selling random things like my roof basket, and knowing people were judging me—it was freeing in a way I didn’t expect.
What’s Next After Breaking Free?
I don’t have all the answers yet, and maybe I never will. But I’m okay with that. For now, my plan is simple: keep driving, keep exploring, and figure things out as I go.
I’m hungry, tired, and trying to navigate this new chapter one step at a time. Maybe tomorrow I’ll make it to Oregon, maybe even California. But tonight, I’ll try to sleep a little and remind myself that this is the scariest, coolest, most exciting thing I’ve ever done.
Final Thoughts
Maybe you have to be a little delusional to live a life that feels truly free. For years, I waited for happiness to come to me—telling myself I’d feel better once I graduated, once I got a better job, once I did everything “right.” But happiness doesn’t wait for perfect timing. You have to chase it.
So here I am, chasing happiness. Maybe I’m mad, or maybe I’m finally living for myself instead of for everyone else. Either way, I’m not looking back.
As always, don’t forget to share your revelations with me below ♡
Until next time,
Audrey
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