Sometimes when I’m laying in bed, about to drift off into sleep, my life passes before my eyes. Not the call-911-type of a situation, but snapshots from my life flicker about.

It may be a result of the research I’m doing about the growing up experiences of Asian immigrant women in corporate leadership. Or it could be due to belonging to the “middle age” group and thinking about what I’ve done and what I still have left to do. Maybe it’s a combination of the two. I’ve learned that qualitative research studies that are personal in nature require the researcher to be both an observer and a participant in the storytelling process. The act of co-creating a story means reflecting on my own life story as I learn about the women who have generously offered me a glimpse into their lives.

With that said, there are times when life speeds by and you don’t get to stop and reflect. This weekend, I filtered through photos I’ve taken over the past few years. Photos give you a chance to capture a moment, but also have the ability to transport you back to that time. Seeing all of the places I’ve been brings a sense of gratitude and awe.

Three years ago, when I decided to buy an Airstream and embark on my dream of traveling around the country, I couldn’t anticipate the types of experiences I would have. Someone wise told me once, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” What I do know is that I’m grateful for what I have seen so far.

When I first took on the responsibility of owning a trailer, I’m sure some people thought it was a crazy thing to do. But I followed my intuition. My life has completely evolved since then.

I don’t know what else is in the future… but for now, it’s important to stop and be in the moment while the world races around me.