The Road Taught Me How to Stay

I took a full eight days to drive across the country to a new home. It was me, my dog, and a vehicle full of snacks. I’d never done anything like this before, but I knew it was a chance for me to walk (or drive) the talk of my practice. 

I didn’t want to just get there, I wanted to be well along the way. 

I also knew that this trip wasn’t just about crossing state lines, but crossing an invisible threshold inside myself. Leaving behind a version of me who needed certainty. Driving toward something I couldn’t name yet, but deeply trusted.

So, I planned more breaks necessary, on purpose. I gave myself time to stretch, move, sip coffee slowly in the morning, read at night, and take walks with my dog in places I may never visit again. I created rituals I’d look forward to: drinking from a sentimental mug at a quiet campsite, listening to the birds, cuddling up with a book and my pup, and watching the scenery change mile by mile. I made room for the power of awe. 

Beyond those anchors and my nightly stops, I didn’t over-plan. I wanted to let the trip unfold and stay present to my inner world while it did. 

The First Few Days

The first few days felt effortless. I was riding a little emotional high of a fresh start. I had hit a workout the morning I left, and my mind was busy processing all that I was letting go of.. and what was ahead. I felt aligned, supported, and spiritually clear.

But, by day four, I felt myself dip. I felt a sense of silence becoming loud that I wasn’t used to…and suddenly wondering what the hell am I doing? I remember a specific moment when driving, that I felt a wave of emotion bubble up and tears started to fall, a pain in my chest took over. Then I heard a voice in my head start to laugh. I realized this is what it’s like to be human. What a gift it is to feel these emotions because that means I'm ALIVE. 

That’s when the real practice began - if it hadn’t already.

Physical Tools: Being in My Body

I started my day with gentle movement, much like yoga but with less structure. This somatic flow included spinal twists, cat/cow, neck rolls, arm circles, acupressure on the crownpoint, hip rotations, and general spinal sways. The saying is, “if it looks weird, you’re doing something right.” and boy, did I see this through.

The purpose of these movements, no matter how weird they may look or feel at first, gave my body a chance to open up, get the blood flowing, and clear stagnant energy. 

I would constantly check in with myself:

• Where am I feeling tension? What feels open? What does my body want right now; movement, a snack, a bit of caffeine..I allowed myself to have it and have fun with it.

I made it a priority to walk every day. Sometimes short, sometimes long. I would let the fresh air, open sky, natural beauty around me bring me back to existence. This was a physical, mental and spiritual nourishment.

Mental Tools: Tending to My Focus + Thoughts

Looking at nature each day changed me. Not in some abstract way - literally. Letting my eyes land on mountains, trees, flowers, the shape of the sky - that visual spaciousness helped my brain breathe, relax, and softened the noise. 

Music was another powerful energy tool. When I would feel my energy get stale and couldn’t stop to walk, I played fun playlists that gave my mind a chance to “dance”. Singing along activated my vocal cords (a sneaky nervous system regulation hack) and brought me into the present moment.

Sometimes I’d switch to educational content; learning Spanish from podcasts, a new audiobook. It gave my brain a dopamine hit without needing sugar or stimulation. Learning became fuel. 

And when my thoughts looped or spun into worry, I’d switch to Friends, my all-time comfort show. Just listening to it while I drove helped soothe the anxious parts of me that wanted something familiar.

Emotional Tools: Working with Fear + Uncertainty 

Even with all this support, some moments felt raw. It’s vulnerable to move forward into something new - especially when physically alone.

When I felt untethered, I turned to comfort:

• My dog's warm presence. My favorite TV show. Voice memos to and from friends. Moments of stillness at a scenic overlook. 

I constantly took a dual perspective in moments and reminded myself I’m allowed to feel scared and capable at the same time. For someone who comes from an all or nothing state, this was huge for me! And that acknowledgment alone also allowed me to feel empowered in those moments. 

Many of the physical tools I used were also helping me move emotion. Movement, breath, and sound all kept the energy flowing.

Even though it was just eight days, I treated it like a long-haul. “If I had to live this way for weeks, how would I care for myself?” I let that question guide me. 

Spiritual Tools: Staying Connected to Something Bigger

The soul care was woven throughout.

The most powerful tool? Letting myself bask in the beauty around me. The desert at sunset. Foggy hills in the morning. Long stretches of open land. That kind of awe gave me perspective, not just on the trip, but on life. 

It reminded me: this is one moment. One chapter. One unfolding. 

I also leaned on connection. I called my best friends. People who have known me change and evolve into so many different versions of myself. Hearing their voices kept me less alone.

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This wasn’t just a road trip. It was a deep, slow practice in listening, how to meet myself in the softest ways; not just when things are smooth but in the dips, the doubts, and all the parts I used to run from. 

What is something you’re moving through right now? Just email me at britney@britneybakerwellness.com, I’d love to hear your story and what’s been going on. 

With love from the road and now the west coast,

Britney