Midday lessons often arrive quietly — early enough to choose. It was still early in the day — early enough to choose rather than react. Heading west meant starting early and ending early, long before the sun dropped low and turned the windshield into a wall of glare. A resting spot had already been considered. Not chosen yet — just held in mind. She stopped for fuel before the tank was low. That mattered. The gas station wasn’t a travel center. Just a small place along the wa

“Confidence is built long before the road begins.” Day Ten is about trying things out before  they are needed. Before traveling alone long-term, I tested my systems close to home. I set up camp in familiar places, practiced routines, and paid attention to what worked—and what didn’t. Nothing was urgent. Nothing was at risk. That was the point. This is where preparedness becomes calm instead of reactive. You learn which items earn their place, which ones create clutter, and ho