Some journeys hit you harder than a pothole on I-40 at midnight. This past September, I lost Mama Mary—a woman who took me under her wing in 2017 when I traveled to Hawaii to honor Lou Conter, the last USS Arizona survivor. Mary didn’t just offer support; she delivered the kind of love that kicked you in the rear when you needed it and hugged you even harder when you really needed it. Even though she lived in California, her care and sass found me no matter where Bertie Bea was parked.

Losing her hit me like a ton of bricks. For six weeks, I just didn’t have the energy to create much more than the occasional Facebook or Instagram post. If you’ve ever lost someone who felt like family, you know that feeling—the world keeps rolling, but your wheels just spin in place for a while.

As a full-time RVer and content creator, it’s easy to feel like you have to keep moving, keep posting, keep smiling. But sometimes, you just need to pull off at the next rest stop and let yourself feel the loss—or whatever life’s thrown your way. Mama Mary would have told me to get over myself, dust off, and move forward—because you never know who God will put in your path to help you reach your goals. And if you’re lucky, they’ll be just as ornery and loving as she was.

So here’s my question for all my fellow travelers, creators, and friends: Have you ever needed to hit pause or reset for your own mental health? What helped you get rolling again?

We all have things happen in our lives that can temporarily derail us. If you’ve got a story, a memory, or a lesson learned on your own detour, share it in the comments below. Let’s remind each other that it’s okay to take a break—and that the road ahead is always waiting for us.

Mama Mary, I’ll keep rolling, just like you taught me. And if you’re reading this from somewhere up the road, save me a seat at the next campfire.