Have you ever stood at the edge of something new and terrifying, a leap you weren’t sure you could take? Maybe it was a diving board as a kid—your heart racing, toes curled around the edge, your stomach doing flips. And there you were, every inch of you paralyzed by the thought of embracing the unknown. Would the water be freezing? Would the other kids laugh? But still, somewhere deep inside, a tiny voice whispered, “Jump.”
That’s how it feels to follow a mysterious set of tracks into the woods. You don’t know where they’ll lead, what you’ll find, or if you’ll ever come back the same. But here’s the thing: the unknown, much like our elusive friend Bigfoot, has a way of stirring the pot. It grabs your imagination, shakes you awake, and dares you to grow…if you dare.
Scot and I found ourselves at that edge in April 2020. The world was locked down, and our lives felt equally boxed in. Our jobs, which had been draining our energy for years, had become full-blown soul-suckers. The cracks in our foundation had turned into craters, and yet we clung to that crumbling familiarity like shipwreck survivors to a splintered plank. The known was killing us, but the unknown? That was uncharted territory. And honestly, it scared us.
But sometimes, life doesn’t leave you much of a choice. So we jumped. We left behind the careers, the safety nets, the societal expectations. We didn’t have a plan—just a destination: Millinocket, Maine. And while I wish I could say we leapt gracefully, the truth is we flailed. It was messy, uncomfortable, and humbling. But it was also the beginning of something wild and beautiful.
Curious about our leap of faith? Check out From Stressed to Squatched for our full story!
Why Do We Fear the Edge?
Let’s be honest: embracing the unknown gets a bad rap. Evolution trained us to avoid it; after all, in prehistoric times, the rustling in the bushes could have been a predator. But in modern life, that instinct can keep us stuck in routines that no longer serve us. Jobs we hate. Relationships we’ve outgrown. Even beliefs that don’t fit anymore. It’s all so safe, and yet, it’s suffocating.
The unknown, on the other hand, is like a shadowy forest. Sure, it’s dark, and yes, there might be bears. But it’s also where the magic happens. Growth, discovery, transformation—none of that happens on the well-worn trail. You have to step into the mystery. And isn’t it funny how every single thing we now call “familiar” started out as unfamiliar? A job, a friendship, a city—it all began as uncharted territory.
Bigfoot: Our Guide Along the Edge
We were high in the mountains of Eastern Oregon, under a full moon in June 2023, more than 30 miles from the nearest humans. After a grueling day of squatching—seven or eight miles of unforgiving terrain—we were completely wiped out. Daisy, our dog, had collapsed in the back seat hours earlier and hadn’t moved. Moonlight poured through the tent fly, casting the meadow in a silver glow so bright it felt like daylight.
But the meadow wasn’t resting. Juvenile elk bugled and clashed antlers, foxes trilled, coyotes yipped and barked, and owls added their hoots to the mix. Even the crickets seemed determined to outdo one another. Lying there, exhaustion pulling at me, I thought, How am I supposed to sleep through this circus? Then, as if responding to my frustration, I muttered, “Would everyone PLEASE just SHUT UP?”
A scream ripped through the night—a sound so loud, so sharp, it cut through every other noise. Then came another scream, from a different direction. And then a third, somewhere else entirely. Scot and I froze in our sleeping bags, wide-eyed and silent. That wasn’t a cougar. It wasn’t a bear. It wasn’t anything we recognized. We didn’t dare speak, but the look we exchanged said everything: What. Was. That?
And just like that, the meadow went silent. Not a rustle, not a chirp. The quiet stretched until dawn, when the grouse began their morning drumbeats as if nothing had happened.
Embracing the Unknown Doesn’t Always Mean Understanding It…
To this day, we don’t know what made those screams, and we probably never will. I like to think the Sasquatch were as annoyed with the noise as I was. The mystery of that night stays with us, and it’s become one of our favorite stories.
Bigfoot, with all his mystery and intrigue, is the perfect symbol of the unknown. He challenges us to face the parts of ourselves we haven’t yet discovered, to step into uncharted territory where true growth begins. Just as Bigfoot roams the wild forests, we have the chance to explore the untamed parts of our own potential. And like any good Bigfoot story, it’s the journey—not the destination—that matters most.
Moving Beyond that Fearful Edge
Embracing the unknown and taking that step into it can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to happen all at once. When we launched our journey in 2020, we didn’t have everything figured out, but we found ways to move forward, step by step:
- We embraced curiosity: Instead of dwelling on “What if this goes wrong?” we leaned into “What might we discover?” Honestly, most of the time we just said, “What the hell? Let’s make it work.” That shift—from feeling stuck to seeing ourselves as adventurers—helped us take those first bold steps.
- We started small: No grand plans, no safety nets—just one clear goal: Millinocket, Maine. If we could get there on our last paychecks, we’d figure the rest out as it came. And ever since, it’s been about asking one simple question: What’s the next step? Then taking it.
- We leaned into uncertainty: Like spotting Bigfoot, there were no guarantees. Our journey wasn’t about knowing every answer but about growing into better versions of ourselves along the way—and yes, maybe catching a glimpse of something extraordinary.
- We found our people: Bigfoot doesn’t roam alone, and neither should we. When our old community no longer fit, we curated a new one. Letting go of relationships that didn’t support us made room for those that did.
- We celebrated every win: Big or small, every step mattered. On hard days, when the truck wouldn’t start or the batteries wouldn’t charge, we reminded ourselves how far we’d come. The life we used to dream about is the one we wake up to now, and that makes it all worth it.
But stepping beyond the edge isn’t just about embracing change—it’s about discovering what lies on the other side. Remember Indiana Jones?
For us, that leap of faith led to something deeper: a rediscovery of balance, wisdom, and the surprising ways nature has always been our greatest teacher.
(To be continued…)
Ready to Take Your First Step?
Embracing the unknown doesn’t have to feel overwhelming. With the right tools, you can turn fear into curiosity and courage. That’s why we’ve created “Steps to Embrace the Unknown: Your Bigfoot Blueprint to Bravery”—a simple, actionable guide to help you navigate the wild and embrace your own edge.
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