One Week into Our Caravan Trip
One week into our caravan trip, as we drive into the unknown, fear begins to creep in. We are venturing into uncharted territory! In contrast to the modern facilities of the Tasman Seaside Caravan Park, where we enjoyed a new ensuite toilet and bathroom, we’re heading to Quobba Blow Hole and North Lefroy for the next two nights—both unpowered sites in a National Park. As expected, our fearful minds are searching for predictability and safety, and to top it off, it's raining!
It's understandable to feel fearful, but I anchor myself with another deep exhale. I’m not here to romanticize the whole caravan trip—it’s not always easy. The kids still get cranky and squabble, and there’s a lot more packing and unpacking than I’d imagined. Yet, surprisingly, I feel calm and grounded when the usual verbal fights, like “That’s not fair!”, arise. Perhaps it's because I have access to more inner resources while being close to nature, supported by the morning meditations I’ve been practicing.
Two days ago, we left our caravan behind at the beautiful caravan park and ventured into Francois Peron National Park with basic camping gear, traveling along 4WD-only paths with soft sand. For the first time, we lowered the tire pressure on our vehicle. We bobbed and bounced along the rugged landscape, spotting emus and a thorny devil. We camped next to a large lagoon with direct beach access. That evening, after enjoying what we declared to be our “most delicious” instant ramen, we lay on a picnic mat, gazing up at the stars. It was the most beautiful Milky Way I’ve seen in a long time—I was in awe! When was the last time you gazed upon the stars? If you haven’t recently, I highly encourage you to do so.
As I gazed at the sky, I felt a deep, expansive sense of richness. I shared this with my 8-year-old daughter and asked, "Do you know what I mean by ‘in awe’?" She responded with, "Like the amazing presence of it all." She was absolutely right! Have you experienced that feeling before? When we’re fully present, unburdened by the chatter of our minds, we feel connected to something greater than ourselves. It’s a beautiful, freeing experience.
This moment reminded me of a concept I recently heard about on the podcast Psychologists Off The Clock—psychological richness. That’s exactly how I felt that night. We were eating simple food and not doing anything particularly purposeful, but we were simply being in a surreal experience in the wild. These new experiences, coupled with curiosity and mindfulness, likely contributed to that sense of psychological richness. A good life isn’t always about being pleasant. When we open ourselves to new perspectives, even at the expense of our comfort, we add richness, variety, and life-changing experiences, bringing about a sense of fulfillment beyond material possessions.
As I reflect on this opportunity to feel both the ‘amazing presence’ and psychological richness, I wonder—how often do you create space for these moments in your life? No, you don’t need to embark on a caravan trip to access this sense of richness. My invitation for you this week is to:
Spend more time in nature.
Could it be a walk by the river, the beach, or a local park? How can you incorporate nature into your life?Notice the moments when you feel relaxed.
How does your body feel during these times? If your mind is constantly racing with to-do lists or past regrets, relaxation will be hard to find. Pay attention to the moments that recharge you, and become conscious of how to access these energy-giving moments more regularly.Add novelty to your life.
Try something new—order a foreign cuisine at your favourite restaurant or find ways to add variety and perspective shifts to your work. How can you embrace curiosity, spontaneity, and wisdom to bring more richness into your everyday life?
The facilitators of psychological richness are curiosity, time, energy, spontaneity, and wisdom (Oishi & Westgate, 2021). If you are keen to read more, please check out this article! I hope you thrive and bloom, not just through happiness and meaning, but with the richness of experience as well.
Here is a collection of wildflowers that I have taken whilst hiking this morning!
