Summary

Angela Maxwell embarked on a six-and-a-half-year journey to walk around the world, covering over 20,000 miles, driven by a spiritual calling and the pursuit of personal happiness through experiences and connections rather than material possessions.

Abstract

Angela Maxwell's monumental walk around the world was not an escape from an unhappy life but a response to a profound inner calling. She exemplifies extraordinary willpower and courage, as she left behind her career and personal relationships to undertake this grand adventure. Throughout her journey across 14 countries and four continents, Maxwell learned invaluable lessons about herself and the true nature of happiness. She discovered that happiness is not derived from material wealth but from experiences, connections, and a sense of inner fulfillment. Her epic journey was an experiment in minimalism, generosity, and immersion in diverse cultures, emphasizing that the real adventure lies in personal growth and self-discovery. Maxwell's story serves as an inspiration, encouraging others to follow their dreams and find happiness within.

Opinions

Maxwell's walk was motivated by a spiritual calling and the belief that she was destined for this adventure.
She views the courage and determination to act on "crazy ideas" as rare and valuable traits.
The journey was more about self-discovery and internal change than the physical act of walking.
Maxwell emphasizes that happiness comes from within and is not dependent on possessions or external circumstances.
She believes in following dreams despite fear, as fear can be a sign of a worthwhile pursuit.
The journey taught her that one can be content with minimal material wealth, and that human connections and experiences are the true sources of happiness.
Maxwell's experience has inspired others to reflect on their own lives and consider pursuing their dreams with faith and determination.

#Walking #Life #Travelling

I Interviewed the Woman Who Walked Around the World

Things do not make us happy. Experiences and connections do

**Angela Maxwell spent six years and a half to walk around the world, covering over 20,000 miles. Photo: shewalkstheearth.com**

It was not like Angela Maxwell wanted to leave behind some unhappy part of her life when she decided to walk around the world.

“It was really that I felt compelled. I would even call it a spiritual calling. I just felt like I was born to do this, and this is going to be a great adventure,” she told me when I interviewed her.

She is the epitome of sheer willpower and courage. After all, it was a grand adventure. Besides, walking around the world is more about having the courage and determination in the first place than doing it. There are people who have such crazy ideas, but not many have the guts to act on those.

And walking around the world also meant she had to let go of everything — her career as a life coach and a business consultant in her early 30s, the relationship she had, and more importantly, who she was as a person.

“I think that is the real adventure. It is not about how far I walked; it is really about what I learned about myself,” she explained.

I asked her why she had decided to walk around the world. I told her she could have travelled across America, which is her home country and is, of course, huge. She could also have backpacked across Europe, which is something many travellers choose to do.

But she is a woman who had bigger dreams.

“I have always dreamed big,” she said.

“There were so many aspects of it that were exciting and yet scary. I think we all feel at some point that there is something in our lives that we are really scared to do, but it excites us more than anything. That I believe is what we are supposed to follow,” she further said.

She did not embark on this epic journey in 2014 to set a world record. In six years and a half, she travelled across 14 countries and several islands on four continents. She covered over 20,000 miles. The journey was more like an experiment of living on less, trying to give more, relishing solitude while immersing into the world.

She learned many lessons as she walked around the world and interacted with people of different cultures in different countries. Perhaps the biggest among those was an age-old adage about happiness.

“You can be happy with very little because it is really about what is in your heart. People have different measurements of happiness. There are those who have absolutely very little, and they are still the happiest in the world,” she said.

Happiness is not about things, she emphasised. “It is about our heart and connections and feeling good about who we are.”

One of the key reasons she went on this adventure was to find personal happiness. I asked her whether she had found it.

“Of course. I would not say it was the walk itself but the ability to go within myself and find what makes me happy. We know things do not make us happy, but experiences and connections do,” she said.

When I was interviewing her, I suddenly felt inspired to walk around the world like her. That is perhaps the biggest impact of Angela’s story on all of us. It will inspire us to have faith in ourselves and pursue our dreams.

Check out Angela’s website: Woman walks the world (shewalkstheearth.com)

Here is her Facebook page: Angela Marie Maxwell | Facebook

Follow her on Instagram: Angela Marie Maxwell (@angelamariemaxwell) • Instagram photos and videos