Ronda Marsh on Saying Yes to the Life That’s Calling, Stillness, And Healing Through Nature And Simplicity

Klara Tselenchuk
16 hours ago
6 min read

Today, I’m honored to introduce you to someone whose journey touched me deeply and reminded me how powerful it is to pause, reflect, and choose a life that actually feels like life.

Meet Ronda Marsh — a nurse who left her 30+ year old career as an OR nurse and stepped fully into nature, stillness, and a new way of living as a full-time RV adventurer.

If you've ever wondered what it might look like to say yes to a quieter life, to trust your intuition even when it’s scary, or to trade burnout for something a little wilder, this story is for you.

From Burnout to Backroads: Ronda's Journey to Reconnection

Ronda spent more than 30 years in the field of nursing, most of them within the controlled, sterile, high-pressure walls of the operating room.

“I spent most of my days inside the restrictive doors of the operating room, never seeing outside, believe it or not.”

She was deeply passionate about her work and found purpose in showing up for others during some of their most vulnerable moments.

But over time, the passion she once had began to flicker under the weight of burnout, long hours, and emotional exhaustion.

"All of a sudden, everything I knew about being an OR nurse had no meaning. I became very unhappy and depressed."

Her journey into full-time RV life and healing in nature didn’t start overnight. It began with a yearning for something different—a deeper breath, a moment of stillness, a return to something simpler.

After her children left the house, Ronda decided to try travel nursing. The idea of pairing her career with a sense of adventure called to her.

But then came COVID, and like for so many, everything shifted. Hospitals closed their ORs. The world paused. And Ronda was left wondering what came next.

While waiting for travel assignments to open again, she was offered a teaching position at a large hospital. Though it was another passion of hers, something still felt misaligned.

She began to look within herself and turned to nature.

“My family said, go do what you enjoy doing. And so I jumped back in and said, I'm going camping.”

A Year of Watching Trees Grow

Ronda's relationship with nature as a healing force goes back even further than COVID or her burnout. In 2007, she experienced a deep depression following a painful personal loss. With no roadmap forward and very little energy to give, she did the only thing she could: she sat on her porch. And she watched.

“I lived on some acreage at the time, and I watched the trees. I called it my year of watching trees grow.”

Each morning, she would sit on the porch, and simply be with the trees.

“Nature speaks loudest when it’s in stillness.”

This daily rhythm, paired with her faith, slowly helped her climb out of that depression. Watching the trees taught her patience, resilience, and presence. She witnessed the subtle changes of the seasons. She began to feel connected again. And when the fog lifted, she carried those lessons with her.

Years later, when she found herself burnt out once more, she knew exactly where to go.

“It was the call of nature that said, okay, you know what to do. You've been here before."

Rediscovering Herself on the Road

With her family’s encouragement, Ronda sold her home and committed to full-time RV living. She embraced a slower, simpler way of being. No longer tied to one location or rigid work hours, she created space for herself — space to breathe, space to walk, space to journal, and space to heal.

“This is my camper here, and I've been living full-time with me and my dog. I have been on a journey of self-discovery, healing, and adventure.”

Ronda walks five or six miles every day with her dog. It's one of her non-negotiables. These walks aren’t about exercise or goals. They’re about presence.

“I just let my mind go blank and enjoy whatever's in front of me. It's the moment.”

She also journals daily — not just in one journal, but in three. Her devotional journal helps her stay rooted in faith. Her personal growth journal tracks her reflections and learning. And her "brain dump" is a free space where anything goes.

“I don't negotiate with it. I just open it up and write whatever comes to me.”

These practices ground her. They remind her who she is. And more than anything, they keep her aligned with what matters most.

Living Light: Minimalism and the Magic of Less

Rondas' dog enjoying the view from the RV

Letting go of her home and belongings wasn’t easy, but it was freeing.

“I have one storage facility. It's 10 by 10. Everything in my life is in there besides what's in my RV.”

This lifestyle, she says, has taught her what she really needs — and it’s not much.

“You only need 10 outfits. That's it. And if something comes in the camper, something else has to go out.”

With fewer possessions, her days are no longer spent cleaning multiple bathrooms or maintaining a large house.

Instead, she has time. Real time. Time to walk, to kayak, to watch the sky change, and to be present with her family.

And when her grandson visits, it's even more special.

“I can't tell you what it means to watch my grandson experience what it means to just be outside as a kid.”

Together, they explore, swim, notice bugs, walk, and talk. And that presence, Ronda believes, is what makes a life meaningful.

“The times that we spend with the people that we love in our lives are the things that matter.”

Facing Fear and Choosing Courage

One of the most inspiring parts of Ronda's story is her willingness to embrace discomfort and do hard things.

“You don't get a lesson on learning to RV. You just jump.”

She shared a story about buying her first 37-foot RV and being handed the keys with zero instruction.

“All you need is a regular driver's license. They gave me the keys and said, 'Enjoy your adventure.'”

Ronda had to learn everything from scratch — how to drive, how to park, how to hook up water and electricity.

Each challenge stirred up fear, but she pushed through. And each time she did, she grew stronger.

“Those push-throughs build your strength, your character. They build your stamina.”

The Ripple Effect: Family, Community, and Hope

Ronda’s courage has created a ripple effect. Her daughter, son-in-law, and grandchildren are now planning their own full-time RV journey. The joy and peace Ronda found are inspiring her entire family to reimagine what’s possible.

And beyond her family, she’s immersing herself in an amazing community.

“The RV lifestyle is probably the nicest community I've ever experienced.”

Neighbors help each other. Strangers become friends. And everyone shares a common understanding: life is too short to be stuck in burnout and stress.

Reflections from Me

Ronda's story reminded me how much courage it takes to stop. To leave behind the life you’ve outgrown, even when it was once beautiful. To listen to the voice inside that says, “there’s something more for you.”

When she said she watched trees grow for a year, I felt that in my soul. Because healing often looks like doing nothing. Like being still long enough to hear yourself again.

This isn’t just a story about RV life. It’s a story about choosing presence. About listening. About walking into the unknown with both fear and faith. And it’s a reminder that healing is available to us all.

Why I’m Sharing This Story

Because sometimes we need to hear that it’s okay to stop. That it’s brave to choose stillness.

Ronda’s story is a beautiful reminder that healing doesn’t always come from doing more — it often comes from doing less, listening deeper, and saying yes to what truly matters. Healing begins the moment we decide to honor ourselves.

Ronda, Thank You

Thank you for your honesty, your courage, and the gentle way you lead by example.

Your story is full of heart and presence — and the way you invite others to slow down, to reconnect, and to just be is deeply moving.

I’m so grateful you shared this chapter of your life with us.

Want to Watch the Full Conversation?

Ronda’s RV journey isn’t just about miles traveled... it’s about shedding what no longer fits, returning to what feels true, and finding healing on the go.

Come join us. Listen. Reflect. Heal.