We appreciate your bravery and honesty. Mental health is so important. Glad that you are facing it head on.

I’m a flight attendant and I feel this all the time! Consistently traveling can be so hard on relation/friendships, especially blossoming ones. Whenever I find myself without friends I try to spin the alone time into a positive thing by making it “self-care” time to do something that you have been wanting to do on your own (get a massage, facial, or my case, try that sushi place that you can’t get your friends to go to with you) I’m gonna keep an eye out for the van next time I’m in the San Diego area. 😉 Safe travels!

When I get lonely I pray and remember that I am never really alone. The feeling goes away and I practice mindfulness and gratitude to God in the moment. Especially on those rainy days that can kind of make everything feel "blah" ...🤷‍♀️😁

Such a good topic for van life & life in general. Thank you for being open and vulnerable and sharing with us! 💕

i've been living on my own for a few years now and as much as i value my privacy and own space, there were days where i felt like i needed someone to keep me occupied/distracted/going. but i know, those feelings were just what i felt on that day and time so i try not to focus on it so much. whenever i feel down, i turn to nature and i try to just go out and get something done on my own. i think its important that you learn to still go out and enjoy yourself without companionship. for example, i have gone travelling alone, going on free walking tours in a city, watching movies at the cinema alone and the list goes on. i also have a list of DIY and hobbies on hand whenever i feel life is beating me down. you just need to zone out for 2-3 hours. i've started a mini garden and volunteering and it has helped me stay busy :)

I wanna tell you that you are not alone in this...I have been living alone for last 4 yrs and trying to finish my degree isn’t easy either...but when I get lonely and sad I just remind myself that the goal is near...even this shall pass too😌🙏

Great video this week, Liz. When I get to feeling flat/deflated, I keep pretty busy at my job. I am a social worker and I give of myself to my clients, to my colleagues, to my partner all the time. I actually need me-time to recharge. Otherwise I get sucked dry by so much energy coming out of me and absorbed by other people.

Girlfriend, today's video totally sounds like Seasonal Affective Disorder. It's not serious but may explain a lot! And it sounds as if you have a lot of coping skills. Good For You! 👍❤🌅🌵

I have a partner and we’ve been together for five years now. But ever since I was a kid, I was always the kind of person that could feel lonely even if I was surrounded with people. I was starting to feel down yesterday, so I forced myself to go on a ten minute walk with my dog. I try to stay busy to feel like I have accomplished something, whether it be laundry, cleaning out my car or something I can check off my mental list of things to do. But almost always, going outside and taking pictures and breathing in this crisp autumn air gets my day going 💜 thank you for sharing!

Love how candidly you shared. I’ve been there too! When the loneliness or sadness comes, I distract myself with my dog or activities, lean on fam/friends and pray. Hang in there! Love your videos... keep up the great work!

Yay I’m so glad u posted this video!! I feel like lately I’ve been doing nothing but school and nothing for myself, so I’m so glad to watch u. I also saw your post last night about you checking into a hotel for a couple of days and all I can say is yay!! I know it felt so good. ♥️ love from WA

I think everyone has days where they feel deflated, well at least I do! Ur not alone Liz!!

I just got out of a serious relationship and have been pretty depressed and anxious ever since. I haven't really known how to deal with these feelings other than distracting myself with television and other mind-numbing activities, so this video was actually really inspiring and helpful for me. It's always good to be reminded that I still have friends and family that love me and that I can talk to on the phone at the very least. I also like the idea of instead of dwelling on these feelings and feeling stuck I should just get out of the house and do something. Thank you!!

Been waiting for this!! Love your channel!!! ❤️❤️

Thank you so much for this. Always enlightening to hear someone else’s approach to sad & lonely.

I love the central coast. Montana de Oro is gorgeous. I love taking photos all along the coast. Thank you for sharing this. I totally understand this all too well. It's hard being on your own for extended times. That's why balance is key. Most of my time is by myself. My series and gym time get me through. My pup too. We all have those days. Sending you love and goodness. Since you're on the coast, enjoy the hiking. There's lots of trails. Or if you can get on the tour to the lighthouse near Hearst Castle, that's a 2 mile hike each way, plus you spend time at the lighthouse.

Waiting for you’re upload! Can’t wait to watch!!

First I want to say I love your channel ! Secondly I deal with Seasonal Affect Disorder or SAD every winter due to the lack of sunlight. I would suggest getting a daylight balanced light and use it 20 minutes a day during the winter. Works for me!

Yay!!!! I've been waiting for another video. Your content is truly something everyone can enjoy and learn from. Thanks for posting. You're awesome, chick! Safe travels!!! 🚐

I found this video very refreshing. We all have feelings of lows at times, some lasting longer than other. But thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and how you deal with it. It creates human connection and even helps lift our spirits to know we are not alone.

Thank you for the video, so relatable. I’m about to move to another state and switch careers so I’m feeling these emotions. I feel sick to my stomach sometimes. Thank you for your honesty💪🏼

Miss Bryant, first of all, I'm very proud of the plunge you're taking just for yourself - takes a lot of chutzpah to do it. Secondly, being alone brings a person to their proper selves, and it's a perfection that cannot really be put into words (but given your situation, you're probably well-aware of this). This is from a fellow who's been on his own for almost twenty years, and both good and ill, I've learned so much about myself, and it's been a total thrill. The peaks and valleys come with the territory, and I wouldn't trade anything of it for the world. Thanks for continuing to share your journey with us as well, ma'am. :)

Thank you for being so open and honest about the whole loneliness and feeling down thing. I can see how having that freedom of movement that van life offers can be a double edged sword. I fight depression most of the time; it can get bad every couple of years. I do Vitamin D, therapy, yoga, meditation, antidepressants, getting outside, and humor.

So happy you posted !

So excited for next week's video. When I feel deflated or alone I like to either write, pray, or listen to positive affirmations and if that doesn't seem to work I take a nap. Naps or the best lol.

Thank you So nice to hear a positive attitude and still be open. I think that is really awesome. Loneliness is a mind set. I believe one really has to like/ be comfortable one's true self to not be "lonely". Love the vids. Vids like this just seem to brighten my day. Hope you keep them coming. Thank you again.

I really enjoy your videos, I watch them every week, thank you!!!

You’re so real!!! I love it!! I enjoy your videos so much!! You are awesome!💯😎💖

I live in a rent apartament on my own and i used to feel really lonely. Then i adopted a cat and it chanched everything. You could really use a pet and make each other feel great!

Thank you so much for sharing. It was so relatable. One method I have for the blah days is to sit down and write down highlights from that day. And I do it right before bed so I have a positive feeling before sleep. And again, thanks for sharing. 😊

When I feel down I like to listen to audio books. It helps me ”dream” of some thing else and it also gives me new ideas in live 😊

Really appreciate your honesty! :)

I love your honesty and how you don't pretend your life is perfect via social media. Look forward to your hiking video ♥️

I would suggest you start a gratefulness journal. Whenever you start to feel deflated, pull out your journal and write down 3 things you are grateful for. This will allow your mind to shift from negative to positive thoughts.

Liz, I absolutely love your channel. You post such amazing content. I am interested in everything you post.

I get the gray weather blues too. I really enjoy your channel.

Your closing comment about getting motivated summed it all up. Great video and beautiful views :) Stay safe and God bless.

Thank you for sharing about feeling bad/depressed and lonely how you deal with it. If we all shared more about how we individually deal with it maybe society would deal with it better. I find fresh air & sunshine and outdoor activities help me. Also upbeat fun music and just moving around if stuck inside due to weather. Great pictures and videos of where you journeyed too in this video 😀 Thank you for all that you share on KZfaq and Instagram, it’s very inspiring and enjoyable. Best wishes on having a great week

🙌 I do the exact same thing! I keep myself busy. To divert my mind to something more positive!

Love your channel. You are a inspiration.

Liz, thanks so much for your openness and transparency. Wow! You packed a bunch of feelings into one brief video. (And that's all good, by the way.) From mild depression, to seasonal affective disorder (S.A.D.) (or sun-powered, in your case), to loneliness, to the longings of your heart. These are all natural and "normal". A great thing about you is that you're in touch with these feelings, and even some of your triggers. So...sit with these feelings as denying them won't result in resolution. You hit the nail squarely on the head when you talked about expectations vs. reality. Andy Stanley says that our internal turmoil is the result of the gap between our expectations and our experiences. The wider the gap between the two, the greater our inner turmoil. My good friend and mentor, John Woodall, also talks a lot about living life be default or design. When we're not grounded and are buffeted be life's ups and downs, that's when we can be taken down. As a "single-again" empty-nester who's chosen to live life home-free, the lifestyle can feel a bit isolating; especially with the lack of community. To counter these feelings, like you, I call close friends, because great relationships don't just happen. They require effort. Again, like you, I regularly return to "home base" to connect with family and friends. For me, personally, attending my home church is also a great comfort. Aside from these things, I find eating clean and staying active/fit are two of the very best things I can do for my self-care. Lastly, writing is cathartic. It sorts out overwhelm and helps me to process feelings. Maybe someday I'll write something that'll help many others. Anyway, this week's video was another great one. Thanks again for sharing and be well.

You are THE sweetest! Thank you for the fresh videos every week! Whenever you feel 'blue' (lonely or just a little depressed) REMEMBER!!!! Without those feelings, we wouldn't be able to completely appreciate and embrace ALL the WONDER'FULL' moments. If the sun would shine every single moment of our lives we would take it for granted. How would we even know not to? ~in order to know happy, you must experience sad

Hi Liz, I've struggled with depression for quite some time now but I tend to feel worse on days when it's cloudy. Seasonal Affect Disorder (aka SAD haha) is a real thing! I notice in winter I feel worse because it gets dark so soon. But the weather tends to affect a lot of people! I love your videos btw, they've been helpful and inspire me for when I graduate college, I'm going to live in a van for a few months! One more year left and my adventure begins!

Absolutely love your channel, thank you for sharing❣ Sending love and light your way❣❣❣

When I have down days I either take my dog on a long walk or go to a local Starbucks or farmers market with coffee and people watch or read a book my favorite is taking a nice long hot shower!💛 I love your videos hope to see you on the road someday safe travels

Happy to see you are back! Excited for your next video! >;3 When I feel melancholic I sing. There's a nice winter road song for you: A-Ha Stay on these roads ^^

Im living in the city and i feel hella lonely. This is an inspiration. You are an inspiration.

We love you Liz ! Greetings from Auburn ,Maine

It has been a long time since I felt that way, but this feeling you are discribing is no stranger. It would visit me regularly. The best way I found to cope with it was to get busy doing something. Cleaning house, taking a hike, etc. I beleieve that is exactly what you do too. Just emmerse yourself in something so you are too busy to think about how lonely you are.

Look forward to your next communique. Happy trails my dear!😁😁

Thanks for the video! Very informational :) I would also be going SOLO and was wondering about this.

Whenever I feel out of sorts I usually meditate and pray. Liz can you do video on the equipment that you use for filming your videos? software, camera, voice etc..Im a tekkie and I love your video quality..

Been on the road as a nomad for 7 years. Not all of them traveling alone, but most of them. What I've done is stay connected online and remember your a part of a great, big awesome KZfaq community, and you'll be ok 🤗.

Loved this video! So excited for next week!! I’ve been depressed a lot recently. A lot is happening in my family right now and there’s nothing I can do to help it.

Yes the winter months are especially dark. I find that staying busy maybe opening a new on line business, or start crafting, or maybe writing a van life book or life on the road book, do all your own illustrations. Most of all be safe with it getting darker early, have fun and keep up the great work!! 🚙😍

I love your openness about the wild life you're living :) I live in Maine and I definitely start to feel an emotional & energetic dip in the cold months (it's darker longer, the house gets kind of snow-bound, it's harder to stay warm so you get lethargic, etc.). My friendly pieces of advice that buoy me through are (1) read about & implement your personal favorite "hygge" techniques, (2) build a passion project into your daily routine, (3) vitamin D capsules, and (4) professional intervention if necessary (for me, this was talk therapy). Take care of yourself & stay wild!!

very beautiful honest video. To answer the question you posed- I take a lot of courses and lectures at the local library and telephone friends most days. I have found that if one keeps busy there isn't time to feel lonely.

Omg i just realised u dont have internet!!! I sooo admire that u can survive that!!! You are so simple and easy going!! I love ur vids and youtube channel!!

OH MY GOD!!!! I live right by montaña de oro! I’m a 19 year old girl who lives on the central coast and you have inspired me to do van life to the MAX. Loveeee your vids and your spirit. I’ll be doing van life full time by the time I’m 21! :-) see ya on the road

Love the video! Love the vid!!! Keep it up

Even in your explanation of your occasional mood swings you have an upbeat positive vibe flowing through! Personally, I like to do mindfulness meditation to relax, calm my whole being & enjoy life to the fullest. That means doing the things I love like cooking & playing poker! BTW, I live out of a truck & van as I am a poker player & trucker so I can relate to your lifestyle very much! Liz, thanks for another great vlog!

i saw this immediately I LOVE U

I have days where I feel blah and then social media makes it even harder because I see people doing all these fun things such as traveling! But it’s nice to see there’s a downside to everything and you can’t escape your problems no matter where you go.

Hi, I think you're great.. I'm 52 at looking on your videos for inspiration..I live in Ireland and am totally moved by your videos.. You inspire lots of people.. Keep up the good work.

Haha about a year I've been feeling like that!! Your such a cool person! Pretty cool you get to travel and see different areas and places...I guess it's time to get new friends and have some fun riding dirt bikes is my high in life!!!awesome video

I am living my dream life through you... So thank you for that 🙌

Great conversation! Glad you shared. And happy our little MdO slice of heaven helped. It's a special place for many things...including just being, connecting with nature, and getting some endorphins on a mtb bike. Cheers!

I teach high school, and over the summer when I often get very bored and lonely I like to go for a motorcycle ride, hit the gym, go for a hike, take photos outdoors, do chores around the house, and listen to music. When the weather is bad, I read a lot and watch movies. I try to avoid going to restaurants because I'm very fitness-conscious and monitor/limit my daily calories carefully. I wish I had friends to hang out with - but everyone I know is so busy with their careers and families.

WOW, another amazing video!!!

oh yes... we all have these days... we just have to realize these feelings will come and go.... so good to talk about it though and remember we are not alone. I live in a house with my kids and feel the same way at times. Its just human nature..... love you and your vids!!!!!

💚💜 You're just so cool and relatable to all of us . when I'm really down I like to that like I'm having the time of my life sometimes it looks a bit crazy but most of the time it looks like I'm living and all of a sudden I'm having the time of my life LOL

Just came across your videos. Great job I just subscribed 👏

We take ourselves wherever we go, which is why if there is loneliness it doesn't matter if we are alone in a van or in an apartment in the city. Its natural to want to share our experiences with people, specifically those close to us. You are very brave to go allow yourself this experience with no modern distractions, to truly confront those feelings, and to find an inner security and fulfillment. It seems like you know when you've reached your limit and know how to find a healthy balance of what you need when you need it. The "distractions" you find, are so much more than distractions... they are a vessel that moves you to go out and experience life, to interact with your surroundings and to experience different aspects of who you are. You are inspiring, keep being true to you!

Couldn't have come at a better time. I'm feeling a little lonely now in my minivan with my 1yr old baby girl. I talk to people but feeling like i desperately need a proper friend catch up SOON! Thanks for the great content lovely one 🤗

Hearst Castle is such an wonderful jump back in time !! That coastal drive ain't too shabby either :)

Great video! I embrace my hermit side and just know that feeling those lonely pangs is ok. Most of the time, it's because I am bored or unsure what to do next. if I solve those, I am ok with being a hermit again.

Your videos are so well produced keep it up!!

Helping someone or taking care of something for someone even with just a smile helps keep the focus off of myself and I soon forget my feelings. Also socializing or doing my hobbies helps me stay centered. I think daily meditation and exercise are extremely beneficial to the heart and soul too.

Yes i relate to your video, listening to music from rock to the relaxing sound of the forest, having a dog helps me relax visiting cheap places eg parks museums op shops reading books@🙂

I feel you. I need to be diligent about supplementing my Vitamin D in the winter months.

Hey girl! I definitely experience feelings of loneliness, and I have 3 other roommates. I'm a college student really busy with class and orgs and all that, and when I'm at home I'm doing homework. Relying on your family and friends is such a smart tactic! When I feel really lonely I like to facetime my parents, or watch a movie with my roommates 😊

Liz: visit Palm Springs for the sunshine. Great weather except during the summer heat.

You remind me of Isabella Lucy Bird... you should check her out. She was a phenomenal world traveler in the 1900s. She bucked social convention by traveling about the world at will, and often alone. A fearless and prolific author who gave incredible contributions to literature and provided a voice that made it seem possible for the average person to become an explorer themselves. Bird was inducted into the Royal Geographical Society of London in 1892. She was the first woman ever to earn the honor. I think you are the Traveling Lady Bird of the 21st century.

Generally speaking we have two types of relationships: friends/family and intimate relationships. When you're lonely do you wish you had a "friend" to hang with you or are you craving a carnal intimacy? A meaningful intimate relationship is a wonderful thing on many levels. The other day I caught that you're selling the van now and looking at a different approach to your wanderlust. I think this was the BEST decision for you. This is dicey ground here, but I'm going to step in the steaming pile anyway... The GREATEST thing ever to happen to me was having my son and I've done many high adrenaline activities that don't compare in the slightest to the joy I've had with him. If there are no medical reasons why you can't, have a kid before you strike out wandering around Europe etc. Europe's been there thousands of years. Isn't going anywhere. Your window is narrowing. This is the most spectacular gift you'll ever receive. PLEASE make this a priority NOW. There was NOTHING I couldn't do with my son and everything I did with him present was amplified 10 fold. I'm gonna shut up now. Carry on...

Yes definitely go through periods of intense loneliness. I have a chronic illness and often don’t have the energy to nurture friendships. If I’m feeling really lonely I’ll go to the gym just to be around people, even if I don’t really converse much with them.

Hey Liz, hope all is going well. Short list of ways to combat feeling the blahs: 1) Exercise. Nothing beats that natural high after a hard workout. You mentioned getting into mountain biking? Or maybe training for a half marathon which would give you a goal to strive for. And during the winter time there’s always skiing, nothing like taking in that bright sunshine and fresh crisp mountain air while ripping down a snowy slope to drive away the winter time blues. 2) Get involved. If you have some spare time how about some volunteering? Everywhere you go I’m sure there’s some worthy organizations that need some help, soup kitchens, environmental causes, local elections, whatever floats your boat. Great way to meet like-minded people and do some good for the world. 3) Touching base with friends and family. You already mentioned you’re doing this which is great. If you’re in Napa with girlfriends go do one of those early morning valley balloon rides. Talk about inflating and exhilirating, definitely a must do experience, you’ll love it!

I like your attitude however 5 times of feeling down in a month feels a lot. However it happens, when I get that way I give myself a day. A day of sad movies, crap comfort food and whatever I feel like. If it happens more often then I make myself workout, do good things for myself. I don’t know what snaps me out of it, maybe just too stubborn to be sad or deflated for too long. Lol 😂 Trail a day sounds amazing!! Jealous and happy to watch it all.

💗“Just feel.”💗

I go for bike rides, eat green juices (spinach, kale), go hiking with my dog, create something (draw, write) to combat depression moods. Thank you for your videos they are so inspirational :*

I think it doesn’t matter if you are in a van or a house, those are feelings that come and go...your doing great love your videos and you make me feel good with your amazing videos your beautiful

Love you! 💕

Just watched this one and I have to tell you that I could totally relate to what you were sharing. A lot changed in my life that totally changed how I live. I have to sometimes fight my way out of depressive or sad thoughts. But I do know that this too shall pass as the saying goes. I don't like those dark moments, so I start to pray and have to just keep moving forward. I am looking forward to getting out on the road, and yes, I know that I will be taking me with me so I will still have those days. I hope to meet like minded people as I travel some. I hope to go to some of these meet ups and see how others live. My dogs keep me going, I was in rescue so I have some who have stayed with me for different reasons. They will be going with me. I do it now in my van, but it is set up for them, not for me, so that will surely change. I will however keep in mind that they will need their own space just like me. So when I am ready to build, I have a few things in mind for their space. Once again, thank you for sharing.

Can totally relate. Full time RV. Retired last year. Just me and my dogs. Loneliness is a big problem. Also worried about not having enough money (cause I don't really). I'm from San Diego also. In Southern Utah now. Looking forward to going back part time to connect with people. Don't really have close family or friends. Thank God I have my dogs.

Youper app is really good for getting your thoughts out. Clear out the cobwebs. Like your visual on having solar panels and soaking up the sunshine. I like to think of myself as a energy bank..how much have I added to my bank today. Have I gone for a bike ride? Have I sat outside and soaked up the environment?

Sounds like you need a little bit of light therapy, it did wonders for my hub’s winter blues. Look for light therapy lamps on Amazon, they are small and affordable. Made a big difference in his outlook. Good luck!

I, too, am solar powered. When I feel blah or run down I try to shake things up. I do something new even if it’s just driving a new route to work. Would any of your friends/family consider traveling with you a week or two and is that something you would be interested in?

I normally feel sad when have had a few days/weeks where I go go go. Whether it's what is going on with work or a combination of work/family/travel or just life in general. I find that if I can get it a couple of nights of good REM sleep and have some time doing something I love helps recharge my batteries. Also finding something to look forward to helps.

I drive a truck OTR and have been for over 34 years. One of the things I do is an old sales person's motivational scream! Look on the mirror and scream at yourself " I FEEL FINE, I FEEL GREAT AND I FEEL PERFECT" 3 times and then smile that beautiful smile at yourself and you should feel a wonderful lift in attitude! When it gets to a bad weather dump feeling, look at the clouds and imagine what it would look like if it was a sunset. It helps . Stop at a fast food place or even a truck stop and "mingle" in the crowd. Just being around people can adjust a bad attitude!! Learn to paraglide! Or even paramotor! You'll always get a great mental adjustment even if you only get to kite the wing! I carry mine in my truck for in case I can make a flying site or just to kite the wing at a stop and I also carry a 4 line Revolution stunt kite and a Snapshot 2 line kite. All are fun and draw people around who are curious so you are never lonely!! Now a 4 line 5 meter sport kite is great for resistance exercising which I also carry with me and is awesomely great fun!!! If I make it to your area meet me and I'll show you how much fun they are!! Blue Sky's and Safe Journeys!

As I sip mornings coffee to start my week... I’m really glad you’re addressing this, it’s one of my biggest fears of “vehicle” life. I really enjoy my home but am fascinated by those who live this way. I travel so much that a home is largely unnecessary but I’m at great peace when home and enjoy the duties we home-bound people have in keeping up with our space. You’re young and vibrant now, what happens should you get burnt out of this; crave domesticity, a partner, regularity? God forbid what would happen should you get injured and need a place for recovery? I’m sure you’ll change and adapt but those of us polar opposite (lifestyle and personality) of you (“I”) wrestle with wonder “have I got the mental fortitude to do this?” Should we be opposite each other some bistro somewhere, I could listen for hours your answers to these curiosities.

When I think about it, why I'm lonely or sad? I move, like literally, walk, run, do something to get your mind off with it..