Life Boost with Amelia

Ep. 65 | When Doing Big Scary Things Leads To Zero Regrets with Guest Hannah Knight

• Amelia Knight Pinkston

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In the span of a few weeks, Hannah called off her engagement, moved out of the home she loved, packed up her Subaru, and went on a solo 6 week cross country road trip to hike in National Parks and to start living the life she wanted instead of continuing down the "easier" path everyone expected. 

The week leading up to the trip she felt "so anxious...terrified". 6 weeks later as she finished her trip, she thought "This is 100% what I should have done. I regret nothing."
Listen to the episode for all the details of how she found the courage to leave her safe and settled life to follow her heart and to start living the life she wanted, crazy stories from her trip, and her advice for anyone feeling stuck like she was.

I'm so thrilled to introduce you to Hannah - the coolest person I know who also happens to be my sister. She has an incredible story and I know you'll find it inspiring! 

Check out Hannah on Instagram:
@hannknight - to see photos of her trip
@hannknightart - to see her incredible artwork

I'm doing something fun for the month of December! If you listen to a podcast episode and then share it on social media and tag me (@lifeboostwithamelia), you'll be entered into a drawing at the end of the month for a chance to win a free 1 hour 1-on-1 coaching session with me. Two winners will be selected at the end of the month (you can also gift the session if you wish). Every share on social media counts as one entry. Fun, right? 

Disclaimer: The information provided in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical, mental health, or professional advice. I am a certified health and life coach, not a licensed medical or mental health professional. Please consult with a healthcare provider before making any changes to your physical or mental health routines. If you are experiencing a crisis, seek help from a qualified professional or contact emergency services.

Connect with me on your favorite social media channel: Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!

To learn more about my approach and the programs and free resources available to support you, visit my website: www.lifeboost.today

I love to hear from you. You can always reach me at amelia@lifeboost.today.

Welcome to the life boost with a million podcast where we're changing the narrative around what true health and success look like. They should give you energy, not drain it. I'm your host, Dr. Amelia multi-passionate integrative health and life coach, entrepreneur, and recovered burnout veterinarian. Together, we'll explore the science behind how your brain and body work, including the unconscious mind while also connecting with what your heart needs in order to stand up to the norm of feeling stuck on a hamster wheel-working hard yet feeling exhausted and not where you want to be- and instead live a life that makes you excited to get out of bed in the morning and in love with who you see when you look in the mirror. The reality is if you do what everyone else is doing, you're not going to feel good. Let's break the norm.

Amelia:

Okay, today is an exciting episode because I have a guest. Hannah Knight is the coolest person that I know. She has an amazing story to share. I have been wanting to have her on this podcast for a long time, and she also happens to be my sister. And she has been super sweet to agree to be. my guinea pig because I would love to start having more guests on the podcast. And so thank you, Hannah, for being here and being willing to do this with me.

Hannah:

Thanks for such a warm welcome, Amelia.

Amelia:

You're welcome. I feel like most podcasts start with asking the guest to say, like, tell me about yourself. But, I don't know how you feel, but that's a big question. That is a hard question

Hannah:

Yeah, I hate

Amelia:

to answer, right? It's like, please just summarize. All of who you are, and then a quick little blurb. I come up with like all these labels, right?

Hannah:

Yeah, totally.

Amelia:

Yeah. So, we're not gonna do that. Good news. Um, we're definitely, I'm gonna ask you something different instead, that I think is more fun, and you can tell me what you think.

Hannah:

Okay.

Amelia:

But, to give, uh, listeners a little idea, You are my younger sister, even though you are taller than I am. And I think the most important thing people should know is, number one, that you're a badass, but also, you are the most creative person that I know. Like, you truly can turn any vision that someone has into reality by using all sorts of different creative mediums. Like, you have done the interior design for a restaurant, you have, like, created... Like, crazy displays for anthropology, like including creating a life size moose that now still lives in Portland, Maine. And you have made, um, what's that word, what's the thing that you've done at the brewery?

Hannah:

I'm your own.

Amelia:

Yeah, mural, giant murals, my wedding dress. So I now, I'm like eternally indebted to you because Hannah, yeah, created, designed, and made my wedding dress, which was beautiful and did all the flowers. So, and yet she still is willing to do things for me. So that's just a tiny, tiny, tiny blurb of Hannah's talent, So, I think a fun way of getting to know you would be what are some things, or what's one thing that, like, makes your heart happy, or something that just makes you feel really alive.

Hannah:

Um, being outside and being with my dogs. Makes me, you know, the happiest. Being outside with my dogs, sometimes not so much.

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

chaotic.

Amelia:

Yeah, I actually, I say that a lot because I feel like a lot of people feel like any time they're outside, like especially if you're going for a walk, that you should, like, you're obligated to bring your dogs, but that, a walk with your dogs is not always. Like a stress free experience. So, I think that that is important to highlight. Like, as a veterinarian, I give everyone permission to go for walks for themselves, too. Not always bring your dog. Of course, it's nice to. But,

Hannah:

Yeah, especially if you want to walk more than three steps at a time.

Amelia:

Right?

Hannah:

stopping for a sniff break.

Amelia:

Right. Yeah. Because it's nice to give them, you know, they can just smell all the smells. But then, yeah, you're not, you're not moving forward very quickly.

Hannah:

Right.

Amelia:

Yeah. Yeah, I love that. Being outside and pets, man, yeah, those make my heart happy, too. Anything else?

Hannah:

Um, being with people that I love. Like my family and my friends. My sister.

Amelia:

Ah, bonus points. Awesome. Okay, so one thing that I want to talk about, um, because with having more people on the podcast, I think a helpful thing to talk about is, um, overcoming times in your life when you feel stuck. And the night girls, at least. We apparently like to, once we hit like around 30, decide like, mm, actually this life that I have maybe isn't. The one I want to, I don't want to keep going in this direction and Maybe I'm gonna do something big and scary that maybe From like an outside perspective others may not understand and yet I'm gonna do it anyways, so you have that experience and However much you're comfortable sharing. Can you talk a little bit about that?

Hannah:

Sure. so I mean, I can talk about all of it. I'm fine.

Amelia:

Amazing. Love it.

Hannah:

I was, a little over a year ago, a year and a half, let's say I was living in Maine, engaged to someone that I didn't wanna be engaged to, that I'd been with for eight plus years. Um, I owned a house, I was very much settled in a life I didn't want, and so I decided to just like, derail my entire life in a matter of, you know, a few weeks. I ended the relationship I was in, which meant I... I lost the opportunity to live in that house and decided to make, you know, a lot of changes, which led to me going on a really long six and a half week road trip by myself around the country because I was like, Oh my God, I can't live this life anymore. I need to do something I want to be doing.

Amelia:

Yeah. Okay, so, pause, because you just listed, so many big things that, like, each of those. And, um, of themselves is a really big scary thing and then you just like decided to do it all at the same time. So, amazing that you did that. That, I mean, it would have been so much easier, right, just to like, Keep going with that life that was kind of like set up for you with having that relationship and that house that you had worked really hard. Like you had made such a beautiful home, made such great

Hannah:

Yeah. Yeah, it was a house I loved.

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

renovated it. Well, almost fully.

Amelia:

Right.

Hannah:

yeah, there's things about the life that I loved, but also things I hated.

Amelia:

Yeah. So, and then you said like in a few weeks, suddenly everything changed. So what Helped you just to make that leap.

Hannah:

Um, you know, thinking about it for so long and not doing anything. You know, I was engaged for over a year, but as soon as I got engaged, I knew I didn't want to get married. You But it felt like, you know, it was expected. I'd been in this relationship for a long time. My family, you know, my parents and my friends were all close with this person and. It was easier to just go along with it, but... Guys, stop!

Amelia:

ha ha.

Hannah:

Stop.

Amelia:

Dramatic pause. Ha ha ha.

Hannah:

yeah, but I just couldn't do it anymore. And you know, the more time that passed, the more I was like... I gotta get out of this because what am I gonna just be engaged for another eight years? Like, I'm not gonna get married. I can't do it. Like, I just would picture myself, like, on my wedding day and be like, I'm gonna, like, run. Like,

Amelia:

Oh my gosh, I didn't know that. That you pictured that.

Hannah:

So, you know, I was like, let's not actually plan a wedding that I know I'm not gonna go through. And that seems like a big, that's like gonna be, you know, a bigger upset to the family, for sure. But, yeah, basically, just, I just worked up the courage, eventually. No, like, big moment. I just

Amelia:

Yeah. I mean, but it kind of was. And I think that's like a good way of thinking. It's like... Like, it seems like things are paused, but it's like you're building up, like, all this momentum in order to just, like, take this big jump and just to, like, take this leap, right? Yeah. So, you made that decision, and then you went on this six week road trip, which, when I tell... most people about this. I, I tend to tell everybody about it because I think it's so cool. And the typical reaction is like, wow, that is so cool. Like I wish that I could do that, but I don't know if I could. Or like, you know, then I think

Hannah:

the reaction I

Amelia:

a lot of people. Yeah! So, Talk a little bit more about like, what was this?

Hannah:

Um, like, what did I do?

Amelia:

Yeah,

Hannah:

So, I traveled around the country. By myself, in my little Subaru Impreza wagon. That's an important detail, wouldn't have worked if it was a sedan, but. Um, I set up a little, like, miniature version of, you know, van life, but Subaru life, I guess. I had an air mattress in the back and whatever stuff I needed. And I went to mostly national parks. I think I drove. 13, 000 miles, we went to 16 parks, and yeah, it was amazing. It was the best trip I've ever taken. Probably the best decision I've ever made in general.

Amelia:

yeah, that's amazing. It was so fun getting to Talk to you like as you were driving and just like hearing about all of your crazy adventures Which we'll talk a little bit more about Specifically because you have some good ones But, yeah, and I also, for those listening, like, I want you to understand Hannah's car situation. Because you had this, like, custom mattress that's, like, made for Subaru. Like, your specific car,

Hannah:

Yeah.

Amelia:

And that, like, were you rolling it out every night?

Hannah:

No, so, it stayed on the company that makes this. They make them to fit, like, every brand of, or every make of car. Not every, but a lot. And they, like, fold. So it can be the full back of your car or you can just inflate one half of it and then fold the other half under. So I just had one half inflated and I just had to have my passenger seat like up all the way and then I could like push forward all the way and then I could leave it up. So most of the time it was just set up and I would have to sometimes, you know, reinflate it a little bit, but mostly it just stayed and then on the other half of the back of my car was. all of my stuff. So I had like two big plastic tubs with all my like food and cooking gear and then I had a big duffel bag with my clothes and then my passenger seat had like my backpack and my snacks and stuff like that.

Amelia:

Yeah, it's a, yeah, crazy. And you, like, all of your kitchen things were, like, very small.

Hannah:

Everything had to be really tiny. I made these, like, kind of janky, but they worked like inserts for my windows because my windows are not tinted at all. And I was sleeping in my car, so obviously I wanted some privacy.

Amelia:

right,

Hannah:

So, yeah. I had

Amelia:

It was, yeah, quite the set up. And...

Hannah:

strapped around the headrest of my car as a lamp.

Amelia:

Right, yeah, so, because you were camping out, it was like, day to day, you were just kind of figuring out the next place where you could like, camp out or park your car. And um, so, like, these aren't like, nice campgrounds, necessarily, with like, the nice like, shower situation, and so, and you're like, on your own. So. Like, in the middle of the night, if you have to go to the bathroom, what do you do?

Hannah:

Well, I would say, like, probably 80 percent of the trip I was camping on BLM land, which is Bureau of Land Management, or in a national forest, because most of those you can camp, like do dispersed camping, they call it, where you just like can stop wherever and you know, camp or park your car, whatever, but there's no facilities at all. Some of them would have like an outhouse. Like a real outhouse, not like a port a potty, you know, just like a little wooden box with a hole.

Amelia:

Right.

Hannah:

But most of the time, you know, I was peeing in the woods a lot, and I was trying to not have to pee at night, which was difficult, but, you know, it was scary because I was in the middle of the woods. Like, not what you think of when you think of the woods. Like, so much more wilderness than that.

Amelia:

Yeah. Right. And sometimes there, you didn't even have, like, cell service.

Hannah:

Most of the time I didn't, like, probably five nights a week. I had no service where I was camping.

Amelia:

Yeah. And so, this seems like a good time to talk about a few stories that you have about nighttime. There are two that, like, really stand out to me. Can you, can you think of the two that I would be thinking about?

Hannah:

Yeah, well, there's three that I can think of, so I'm sure two of

Amelia:

Oh, okay.

Hannah:

The first one I would think of would be when I was camping outside of Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and I was in a, like, I would say most of the time I didn't feel 100 percent safe, but only a few times did I feel, like, really scared. And this was one of the places I felt really scared, because I had had to drive down this super long road that was, like, so... bumpy and my car is not very high clearance so it was sketchy. I drove probably like 45 minutes down this road to get to the spot and there was nobody else around except for this weird like rundown RV that, you know, who knows if there's someone living there.

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

In the campsite I was at, which is weird, it was like this, down this steep hill, and then it had like a fence around it, which seemed bizarre. But, anyway, I told myself, like, okay, I'm parking, and I'm gonna go out and pee, and then I'm not getting out of my car, like, no matter what. If you have to pee, it doesn't matter, like, you're just gonna figure it out. 4am, you'll be fine.

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

So, I did that, and I'm like, in my front seat, I would get ready for bed in my front seat. Because that was the only place I could sit. So, I'm getting ready for bed. I've like taken my shoes off at this point, cause I'm, you know, relaxing. It's like sitting on the couch but, you know, car camping version.

Amelia:

But not quite.

Hannah:

And I hear this like, rustling sound. And so, naturally I think there's something outside. Like, a bear. Or a person. Like I would rather it be a bear at this point.

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

But I, for some reason, I'm like, I need to put my shoes on, like, you know, thinking I'm gonna need to drive away, and my shoes are like, at the pedals, so, that's not gonna work, so I,

Amelia:

a good thing.

Hannah:

right, so I turn my flashlight on, and like, shine them down where my shoes are, and there's a mouse on my shoe, right so I scream, and I jump out of the car, and like, pull, rip my entire car apart, trying to find this mouse, and I In the middle of the night, like, in the middle of nowhere, I'm already scared, but I'm more scared of this mouse, apparently,

Amelia:

I

Hannah:

which is not great,

Amelia:

are close quarters.

Hannah:

really, yeah. Of course I don't find it, so I have to put my car back together and then just go to sleep, I mean try, and I just hear this mouse, like, chewing all night long, like, I'm just having visions of, like, waking up with it, like, on my face. Like, do you remember, like, the parent trap, when she wakes up and there's, like, a bird on her? When they send Meredith out into that's when I felt like, look

Amelia:

Yeah. Seems logical.

Hannah:

at that. But, yeah, I mean, it was okay. We were roomies for the night. And then, the next day, I was like, okay, I have to catch the mouse. So I went and I bought mousetraps and I got a room at the sketchiest motel ever. Which, like, in retrospect felt more afraid there than I did in the sketchy woods. So I set two traps because I'm like, I don't know which side it's gonna be on. Just to be safe and then I go out the next morning and there's a mouse in each trap

Amelia:

Oh my gosh.

Hannah:

But I think that was it cuz I didn't see them after that

Amelia:

I don't know what I would have done.

Hannah:

I mean, there was really nothing else like there wasn't a lot of option, you know,

Amelia:

Right. Oh.

Hannah:

like besides sleeping outside and It was cold. Like it was probably below 30.

Amelia:

Yeah. And, I mean, it sounds like you already didn't feel like you

Hannah:

Right. I didn't just, I also didn't have a tent. So like I would have just been out in the open.

Amelia:

Yeah. Oh my gosh. I mean, that's amazing. You're like, Okay, mouse, we're roomies for the night. Please don't go in my face.

Hannah:

Right.

Amelia:

Yeah. But you survived, which is amazing.

Hannah:

did. And then I got a lot better at like making sure all my snacks were really well sealed up.

Amelia:

yeah. Good learning experience. Do you, you have no idea how the mouse got in?

Hannah:

I was in, I'm sure it just crawled in through the engine or whatever, because

Amelia:

Right.

Hannah:

I was camping in the forest every night and it was, you know, my car would be warm because I would have been driving. So. What a cozy little home.

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

So I don't know how long he was in there, but I feel like probably like just that night cause I, he was loud. Or she, I guess I

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

It was a lot of audible chewing.

Amelia:

Oh my gosh, yeah, nah, I mean, and I'm a veterinarian, but, and I, you know, we had gerbils like growing up, like we, but when they are unexpected in your space, it's just not okay,

Hannah:

It's not. It's really not. It's so different when you don't know they're gonna be there.

Amelia:

it's so so different, yeah. Uh, okay. So then you have another story with a different sized animal.

Hannah:

Yes, so

Amelia:

Do you want to share

Hannah:

this one's less, I would say less exciting. No, I mean for me. In the moment.

Amelia:

Okay.

Hannah:

This happened, um, camping outside of Big Bend in Texas. I was in some, there's no dispersed camping down there cause it's too close to the Mexican border. They don't allow that. Um, so I had to pay for a spot but it was just essentially like a patch of the desert that someone owned and like you just drove out and you stopped wherever but there was no like sight. So

Amelia:

Wow.

Hannah:

I was probably like a hundred, maybe 75 yards from the closest people, but there's nothing in between. So, you know, I can see pretty clearly

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

and I had a nice little night to myself. I made a flyer, I, you know, just hung out, it was a pretty chill night and then I went to bed at probably 11, 10 30, I don't know. And then I slept fine, didn't wake up to go to the bathroom, luckily.

Amelia:

That is good.

Hannah:

then the next morning I was packing my stuff up and driving out and the people, it was like a group of guys that was closest to me and they flagged me down. And I rolled down my window and they were like, did you see that mountain lion last night? And I was like, no, what are you talking about? And they were like, it was circling your car at midnight. And I had noticed like when I was making breakfast, these weird like. What looked like mountain lion paw prints, like, around my car, but I was just like, I don't know, like, I don't know what that is.

Amelia:

Right.

Hannah:

Yeah, so I wish I would have seen it, but I

Amelia:

Yeah.

Hannah:

you know, through my window, not like, up close and personal.

Amelia:

Right. Not like, As you're trying to go to the bathroom or something. Oh my gosh I'm just like pausing to imagine what that would be like. It's yeah, so what kind of Things did you do? Like this is a it's a big trip right and it there are clearly some safety things to be thinking about so What did you do Want to do this kind of trip? At some point in my life, I think that I will.

Hannah:

Yeah, I recommend it highly,

Amelia:

Or really, yeah, really, I want us to go like on at least a little trip together.

Hannah:

Yeah, I would love that.

Amelia:

Same. So when, what were some of your favorite places or hikes?

Hannah:

It's hard to pick because there are so many amazing places, but I think my top two favorite parks and hikes combined, I guess, um, would be Grand Teton in Wyoming and Sequoia National Park in California. And in both of those, I did Two of the longest hikes I did and in Grand Teton, I did couple of trails looped together, which I don't know how many people are really gonna, you know, go to Grand Teton and do this hike, but if you're curious, I did of the Jenny Lake loop and then connected that to Hidden Falls and then Cascades. Inspiration point and then out into Cascade Canyon and then back through all that. So to all together is 13 miles. And,

Amelia:

Amazing.

Hannah:

I saw a baby and a mom moose super close, well, too close, but it was okay. And I saw them on the way out and the way back and it was so cool. And there was almost nobody on the trail, so it was very peaceful.

Amelia:

Yeah, I bet. So I am curious about that, like, you've just made these giant life decisions and then you have a lot of time to be with your thoughts. So yeah. So how is that?

Hannah:

I mean, it was, you know, it was heavy at times. In the beginning, it was like, my first drive I did was from Maine to Ohio, which was 12 hours. And that was a lot of time to think. And there had also been some developments in my life that happened right before that that made me a little, you know, emotional,

Amelia:

Sure. Yeah.

Hannah:

but. Yeah, I mean, I journaled every day, which was not something that I do in my normal way, but I'm so glad I did because I can look back and see exactly what I did every day and how I was feeling and Yeah, I mean it was very peaceful and I feel like I grew so much and learned so much about myself Because I never spent six weeks by myself Like, most people haven't.

Amelia:

Yeah, I don't think, yeah, I think very few people probably can say that. And I think that it's beautiful that after doing, that big thing, you were able to spend so much time. In nature, like a place where you say it makes your heart happy. And like, just to reconnect with yourself. Cause I think in general that's just something that happens so seldom in like our normal lives. We just are like on autopilot, and going through like, caught up in all the things that we think that we have to do. And like, we're never really checking in with like, what's going on in our mind.

Hannah:

Yeah, definitely

Amelia:

the emotions. Yeah, and I, I think that's amazing that you had space to be feeling some of those, like, hard emotions you were feeling at the start, too.

Hannah:

Definitely. Yeah, that's part of why the other hike I was gonna talk about is the one in Sequoia. And that one, I don't even remember what the trail was called. I can find out if I read my journal entry, but, um, I think it was like a 10 mile hike, but it went to this alpine lake. And I had never before this trip gone to an alpine lake, but I went to quite a few of them and discovered that they're like the most peaceful places on earth, I would say, one of them, because you've, you know, you finish like a pretty strenuous hiking and you just are at this like very calm, like crystal clear blue lake. So I was sitting, I like, hopped a couple rocks out to this little island in the middle of the lake. It was sitting there, just feeling like so at peace, and I just had this thought that was like, I am happier now than any man would ever make me feel. Which,

Amelia:

Oh, yeah.

Hannah:

you know, was big for that moment, because I was newly an independent woman.

Amelia:

that's huge, to have that beautiful moment of just like, peace and confidence and like,

Hannah:

Mm hmm.

Amelia:

almost like clarity, like it's gonna be okay, like these beautiful things are available to me.

Hannah:

Yeah, and accessible. You just drive for a couple weeks.

Amelia:

That's right! Hike a mountain, and there it is!

Hannah:

Yeah, no big deal.

Amelia:

Yeah, those pictures that you shared are stunning. That's definitely, like, I would say, like, top of my list because it just does look just so beautiful. So we're gonna have to find a time when we can do that hike together. Yeah. That's amazing. So I'm curious, um, so how did you feel, like, The week before this trip,

Hannah:

So anxious. Like, terrified.

Amelia:

I'm sure.

Hannah:

Like,

Amelia:

as anybody would,

Hannah:

yeah. I mean, you know, I'd been planning it for a while. But not that long, maybe a month. Maybe a little longer than that. Um, you know, and I'd made a big deal about it. It was like a going away party, but you and mom threw for me as a surprise.

Amelia:

hmm

Hannah:

And You know, I had, it was like, well, I guess I have to do it now. Like I'm super excited, but also what am I doing? Like, this is so scary. I've never, I had never even gone on a hike by myself, like at all.

Amelia:

Yeah, you just go big.

Hannah:

Or slept in my car or driven,

Amelia:

is Amazing.

Hannah:

I had driven the furthest I'd driven by myself was like to Philadelphia.

Amelia:

Yeah, that's incredible. So what were like some of the thoughts That were just going through your head at like the week before?

Hannah:

Um, I don't even know, like, I was really anxious about something happening with my car

Amelia:

Mm

Hannah:

and not. Knowing what to do, know, I'm not car savvy. I didn't know anything about cars. That was a concern for sure, because my car was like my lifeline, basically. My home on wheels

Amelia:

Absolutely.

Hannah:

and Yeah, I don't, I just didn't really know what to expect. You know, it was like just so much unknown.

Amelia:

Yeah. I mean, totally.

Hannah:

So that's, I was probably anxious about that, heading out into the unknown,

Amelia:

As anyone would, I think. And so I want to talk about the car in a minute, but so at the end of the trip, how did you feel?

Hannah:

Like, I mean, conflicted because I was so happy I had done it. It was like the best. You know, I came back feeling like, yeah, this was 100 percent what I should have done. Like, I regret nothing. But I, I also felt like, wow, I could keep doing this for, Ever, or like, for another six weeks, for another six months, like, I was not ready for it to end at all. So, going back to, like, what was waiting for me at home, which was, I was living with my parents.

Amelia:

Mm

Hannah:

I had to clean out a house that I wasn't living anymore, in anymore, but was gonna sell. It was like, a little dismal, you know, going from having, like, full time adventures, To the normal daily life.

Amelia:

Yeah. Understandably. But, so I think that's amazing, first, that you were really, you know, nervous, anxious, had doubts and fears, and you did this big thing anyways, and then it turned out to be like, The most incredible experience, like the fact that you're like, I have zero regrets is really incredible. And, and I remember talking to you some, like, it, it sounded like the trip gave you a lot of clarity on some things. And like, even finding that that time in nature was, was so... healing and grounding for you, it sounds like, was a helpful thing to, like, really realize during that trip.

Hannah:

Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm.

Amelia:

feel that way? Yeah. And one of the things that I think is helpful for everyone is, like, getting clear on your values. Uh, like, core values, like, at the core, what are those things that just, like, light you up and are so important to you, and, and thinking about that, when you think about, like, creating a life, like, what What does that look like? Like, how can you be leaning into those things? Like, for me, it would be like, adventure, connection, influence, um, well being. And so, I have created a life around those things. Can you speak a little to, like, did that trip give you some clarity since you were making some big changes in your life at that point anyways of like, what some priorities might be for the future?

Hannah:

Yeah. I think, I mean, it made me realize, well it, it made me like figure out how to be independent and self-sufficient, like 100%.'cause I was,

Amelia:

Yeah,

Hannah:

you know, it was just me. There's nobody to help me If something went wrong, I had to figure it out.

Amelia:

right.

Hannah:

But that was also empowering'cause I did figure it out. So definitely wanting to, you know, be independent and

Amelia:

yeah,

Hannah:

be able to do what I want to do when I want to do it. Cause that's what I was doing and it was so freeing not having to worry about someone else. But also I would say adventure is also one of my core values now. It was, but it was made a lot more clear during this.

Amelia:

yeah,

Hannah:

And

Amelia:

that's amazing.

Hannah:

movement,

Amelia:

Yeah, that's a good one,

Hannah:

I think just, you know, I was hiking like very, but probably eight to 15 miles a day. And I just felt better than ever, even though I was sleeping in on an air mattress in my car. Like, you know, I was so physically exhausted at the end of every day, but so happy and accomplished, which was great.

Amelia:

I love that. I mean, I think those kinds of observations about what makes your heart happy, like, when do you feel the best in your body, what are the things that help you to feel empowered, like, it's awesome that that trip gave you clarity on, in so many aspects. I think so that even if you're not going on like a six week solo trip, maybe there are ways to be incorporating that into your life to help like every, you know, week to week be more fulfilling too. Do you feel like that? Yeah.

Hannah:

Yeah, I think I should be doing it more than I am, but It just made me more, like, willing to do things by myself, which I was never doing before.

Amelia:

Yeah. That's huge. And so like, I think that's a really important. thing to go back to is like you were afraid like what if something happens to my car like and I'm on my All by myself and I have to figure it out on my own and then you did end up having Situations like that like a pretty tricky one, right?

Hannah:

Yeah, this also happened in Colorado. I didn't have the best time in Colorado.

Amelia:

Okay, good to know.

Hannah:

This was like, The night after I caught the mice, I was, I was on the other side of the Rocky Mountain National Park and trying to find somewhere to sleep. There's also no dispersed camping there, but there's, so there's some national forest campgrounds, but you, it's like first come, first served. So I was driving out to see if there were spots, but there's no self service. So it was like 45 minutes out. To look at a campground and find out there was no spots left And then I'd have to drive all the way back into town to get cell service back to look for another place so I've been doing that for like, I don't know a few hours and Eventually just stopped and parked somewhere so that I could like find like a Actual campground to pay for it because like at this point it's getting dark and I don't have anywhere to sleep and there's signs everywhere in this town that say like you can't sleep here because of people do. So I turned my car off and I find a place that's like 45 minutes away but it's like I booked the site, it's like guaranteed. So I turn my car on to drive there, it's dark at this point and both of my headlights have gone out. And I can't stay where I am, so I had to drive all the way there with my high beams on, luckily they still work.

Amelia:

thank goodness

Hannah:

And it was, yeah, I just felt like such an asshole, but it was okay. I made it, and then the next day I went and got new lightbulbs.

Amelia:

Yeah. That's incredible. I mean, even just like trying to find the campsite, right, and like not having service and like going back and forth and then like on top of that having your car suddenly like not having lights

Hannah:

that was like a pretty regular experience. It wasn't usually quite such a long process, but that was a challenge, finding a place to sleep every night.

Amelia:

yeah. And yet you just figured it out.

Hannah:

Yeah, there's lots of apps that are very helpful.

Amelia:

Yeah. Well, so for anyone listening who maybe decides that they do want to do this, what are some apps that were helpful?

Hannah:

Um There's an app called dirt. I think it's with a y d y r t That is really good for finding campgrounds and then the ultimate like free camping App is called eye overlander and People post coordinates of places that they camp, which can be anywhere. It can be a parking lot. It can be somewhere in the national forest and BLM land, whatever. But it has like the exact coordinates and then they'll post sometimes pictures and. A description and information about like if you need a high clearance vehicle to get there or whatever if they, you know, Got a knock on their window or whatever. So that was like the best one because I was trying to do this on an extreme budget. So finding free places to sleep most nights was very important.

Amelia:

Yeah, and I think that also there are a few things I guess to say about that one going back to Just that initial fear of like what if I what if? Bad things, you know, happen. I'm on my own trying to figure it out. It sounds like this trip was just like such good proof for your brain of like having so many times when you did have a tricky situation and you did just figure it out on your own. Like, having that proof for your brain for like in the future when your brain is like having doubts is so powerful and empowering.

Hannah:

Yeah,

Amelia:

you said,

Hannah:

I need to remember that sometimes.

Amelia:

yeah. Well, I'm here to help to continue to remind you that you're a badass. Everything is figureoutable. Um, but then I also, you know, for anyone listening, I think it's easy to hear like, to think like, wow, that would be so cool to do that. And then to think of all of the reasons why. You can't, or why it's not possible. Um, and I, so I think that is important to highlight, that you were able to do this on a pretty limited budget. And you made it work,

Hannah:

Yeah, I mean it kind of, There were many reasons why it worked, but a big part of it is that I was able to leave the job I was at for seven weeks and they didn't fire me. I was bartending at a brewery that's very seasonal, so I had a good summer of making money. And then could use that to finance this trip, but I completely understand that most people can't take six or seven weeks off of their job.

Amelia:

Yeah, but at the same time, you know, I encourage... Always just getting curious instead of having those initial judgments of like, if this kind of trip is something that you want, and maybe it's not six weeks, maybe it's like a weekend of doing a solo trip, or you know, maybe it is a month or something like that, but just thinking about like, how could this be be possible that I could do this instead of thinking about the reasons why you can't, um, because, you know, in the veterinary world, I actually know a lot of relief vets who are doing the van life, and it's so cool seeing that they're always visiting, like, national parks, and they're, you know, maybe working on, like, a few weeks, and then they take a chunk of time off, um, You know, and at the same time, in the vet profession at least, and I think in a lot of places, it's important to remember that, like, you are in high demand, and it is reasonable to want to also be living your life. I, that's something that I think is so important, is finding a balance in your life that makes it so that you're not just like, Waiting for retirement because that's how I was feeling when I was burnt out as a vet and so whether that does mean maybe like having an uncomfortable conversation and asking for more vacation time or asking for like a little sabbatical cuz That kind of trip that I'm sure just like, can just recharge you so much, nourish, yeah. Just make your

Hannah:

Yeah, I mean, I just told my boss I was leaving for a month and a half. I didn't ask and I was like, if you say no, then I'll figure it out. But

Amelia:

Yeah! And I think that's

Hannah:

were cool about it.

Amelia:

Yeah, and I think that's again, you know, like not letting people pleasing hold you back And if you are having a conversation and asking just remembering like that that moment or that one conversation Man, that could mean that you get to do the best thing you've ever done in your life, you know, and is that worth just a moment and, and also, yeah, I feel like maybe you are in a job where you're like, well, you know what, either they say yes, and that's great, or they say no, and maybe this isn't like The job that I want to stay stuck in anyways, but, you know, taking that leap, and of course, it depends with everybody's situation, but in general, I think it's just so awesome that you made so many huge decisions honoring So, um, yeah. What you needed in order to start living a life that you wanted instead of what everybody was expecting of you to do when that would have been a much easier option. Yeah. Yeah. It's very inspiring. Like, so far, all I've done is like, a little trail hike by myself, like, you know, for a couple of hours. But that was. So fun. I really enjoyed that and so

Hannah:

I think that's great. I would maybe recommend that to people to try Try it out first because I didn't but it was fine. I mean it was great, but it's not for everyone So

Amelia:

you went big for sure Yeah Yeah, and then you Moved across the country

Hannah:

Yeah, I did.

Amelia:

Yeah with your dogs one of which is a very Anxious dog, but the most beautiful Black

Hannah:

so pretty, but she's tortured mentally.

Amelia:

She's, yeah. She, yeah, so like when you got her, she was terrified of a leash and didn't go through doors, right?

Hannah:

Yeah, she was terrified of everything, but leashes were the number one enemy, for sure. Doors were related to that, I think, because, you know, you go through a door if you're on a leash, generally. hmm.

Amelia:

I feel like, so I do, I have so many more things that I want to talk to you about, but I also feel like I don't want this podcast episode to go too long. So I think the only answer is having you on again in the future. Would you do that? Maybe. I don't know. For anyone listening, I told Hannah that I would delete this if, if she wanted, because this is just a practice. Hopefully this is working, because I've enjoyed this conversation with you. So much. And there's still, oh, I have so many topics that I want to talk. I think you're just going to have to be like regularly on the podcast. So for those listening, if you enjoyed listening to Hannah's stories and you want her on again, let me know. But, One thing I want to highlight is that you just did a really cool thing where you decided to do to share some of your art every single day for 31 days, right? What did you call it?

Hannah:

Artist, because it was in August.

Amelia:

Oh, yeah. Ah, yes artist so You also have your like business Instagram site

Hannah:

Yes,

Amelia:

that's at Hannah Knight art. Is that right?

Hannah:

correct.

Amelia:

Yeah. So, I highly recommend that anyone listening check that out as well. Hannah just, and I feel like your Instagram is really even just like a small sample of the things that you can create, but people can buy your art, is that right?

Hannah:

Yeah, it's not advertised currently, but it will be soon. But yes, if you DM me, you can buy it.

Amelia:

Yeah, so she has so many beautiful, like, prints and you are maybe gonna start doing like the prints even on things like bandanas or bags or like kitchen towels and stuff, right? Yeah. And you have paintings and um. In my, the free Eat the Burnout series that I've been doing, I've been also talking about how you are just incredible at creating, like, an interior design and helping visions come to life. And so, even if there are vet hospitals that are wanting to, like, update their, um, break rooms into not being, like, the saddest, most, Pathetic suggestion of a break space, and instead, like, creating a beautiful, like, spa vibes kind of environment where people actually feel like they have an experience of being able to unwind and just feeling appreciated, then that's also something that you could do as well, right?

Hannah:

it is, yes.

Amelia:

Awesome. So, just wanted to plug that because I know that you Thank you. Might not and I think it's important for people to know.

Hannah:

You know I don't plug anything over.

Amelia:

I know you don't. Oh, yeah and yeah, yeah, so talented so Before we go is I guess since you're my sister, is there anything that you think people should know about me? That they might not.

Hannah:

Um, you're the most supportive sister ever. You're my

Amelia:

Well, thank you.

Hannah:

number one fan.

Amelia:

I am. Because you, you are seriously just the coolest person. Oh, you also, another cool thing to add, because Hannah has a sleeve of cool tattoos, but you just got a tattoo run, right?

Hannah:

Yeah, but I'm, like, nowhere near ready to use it on a human.

Amelia:

Yeah, no, not advertising that skill

Hannah:

I'm trying to learn that skill, but it's really hard.

Amelia:

yeah, it's cool. I mean, what you showed me, though, was I thought it was beautiful,

Hannah:

Thank

Amelia:

but I think that that's a fun, exciting, new adventure that you have too.

Hannah:

It is a fun hobby for now.

Amelia:

Yeah. Yeah. I love it. So if there is anybody listening who is feeling stuck and they're feeling like they're living a life that others are expecting them to do. Or, maybe they are thinking about doing, they keep thinking about like a trip that would be amazing, but they keep talking themselves out of it. What would you say to them?

Hannah:

I would say just do it, which is a very generic answer, but I mean... There was so many reasons I could have come up with to not go on my trip or make any of the life changes that I made, but I'm so glad that I did all of them, even though it was not the easy choice. But, you know, you grow from doing things that are hard.

Amelia:

So true.

Hannah:

if you feel like you're scared to do something, that's kind of the point, right?

Amelia:

Yeah. Those are the times when you feel most alive,

Hannah:

right. And then you prove to yourself that you can do it. You don't have to be scared.

Amelia:

Yes. Yeah.

Hannah:

just can do it and be scared anyway and that's also fine.

Amelia:

Right? It's okay to be scared.

Hannah:

Yeah, I was scared every single night of my trip.

Amelia:

Yeah, I think that's a really great thing to highlight. Like, yeah. That's what I found, too. It's like, I, there are things I want to do, and I feel scared while I'm doing them, and I do them anyways because it's also what I want to be doing. And that was something that I had to learn. Is that, like, it's not necessarily a problem. That you feel scared. Like, you can feel scared and also feel other feelings.

Hannah:

feel scared and continue to do it.

Amelia:

Yes. Yeah, I think that's a really important thing to say. And yeah, sometimes it is just, I know for me, that moment that I finally stopped being stuck was just the moment I allowed myself to be like, okay, if none of these things were really problems or reasons why I can't do this, then what would I do? And so, I think that's a great thing for people to explore, is like, what are those things that scare you? And maybe is that something that could change your life, to lean into it. Yeah. Thanks for being a guest.

Hannah:

Thanks for having me.

Amelia:

Yeah, how'd it go? Yeah, for those listening, since I, there's, I promise there's no, um, video. Hannah has done, like, self tanning, which we both enjoy doing. And she just applied it, and the one that she used is quite dark.

Hannah:

I haven't washed it off yet, so I look crazy.

Amelia:

Yeah, your teeth look

Hannah:

And I have a hair mask in.

Amelia:

Yeah, it's amazing. Yeah, I love it. Alright, thank you so much for being the very first guest.

Hannah:

You're welcome. Thanks for having me.

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