Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Desiree Brown. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Desiree thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory behind a risk you’ve taken – whether big or small, walk us through what it was like and how it ultimately turned out.
Risking it all. From a custom built home and a combined six figure salary, to a built out Astro Van, full time travel and a little bit of savings. That was the risk, that was the extreme sacrifice we took late 2018. After years of working up the corporate ladder, yet always knowing travel and adventure was in my soul, my husband and I took the biggest risk and leap of faith on a December morning a few years ago.
We’d become stagnant, surrounded by all the things we could want for, yet still empty and feeling like we were wasting our life for a 401k. We decided to sell our house and truck, the things we owed on, and gave quite literally everything else away. Including a car, and all the furnishing and decor that filled our 2,000 square foot home. Knowing that to give freely will also set you free. Which is what we were come December 30th, 2018 as we left in our 1998 built out Astro Van to travel and see what else was out there for us in this wide open world.
An awakening to the alternative, the subtitle to my debut novel and the most honest succinct way to describe the last three and a half years. Desy’s Diaries chronicles the many ups and downs of our first year on the wide open road, chasing our dreams and living a completely alternative life. Campfire Currency, the title of my husband Seth’s debut 12 track album is insight to life on the road and the many lessons learned.
The risk, taking it, leaping, jumping, believing, sharing, giving, and laughing our way into the unknown is what gave us the mental space and practical time to create. That’s the biggest beauty in it all to me. In our previous life and lifestyle we were consumed by things we now realize don’t matter to us. By jumping out of our rut, this album and book came to us. The reward to the risk has been worth it for us all the way! To experience major lifetime dreams and goals breathing life is and was worth every penny of the 401k we left behind.Challenging at nearly every turn, no doubt, the risk is not rose colored, it’s honest and we both feel more alive than ever before!
We’re still living tiny on wheels, now in a travel trailer as a home and full time travel rig. Pursing our dreams, passions and goals while we’re still here with time in our lungs. Touring music and releasing novels. The risk has been hard, but what isn’t? We choose to keep risking it all to stay alive, free, and thriving in what we were made to do and be. Create.
Three and a half years after the biggest risk and change of our lives, I am a different person and am beyond grateful to be. When all the distractions were gone, all the societal expectations released, we met ourselves on the wild open road of change. If you listen to Campfire Currency (streaming everywhere) or read Desy’s Diaries (releasing October 2022), you’ll meet us, Seth and Desy, as we met ourselves. Risk, it has been a beautiful thing.
Desiree, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
Desiree Brown, nice to meet you :) Passionate about sharing truth and the connection it brings, an Illinois native, adventure loving, vagabond hearted, huge dreamer. Leaving the country roads of my past at age 25, setting sail for Nashville, TN with no looking back. I’ve lived in multiple states, traveled all over the USA, and spent time in Canada. After meeting the love of my life in Tennessee, we ventured out west in 2016 and eventually dove head first into an entirely different freedom lifestyle late 2018. Abandoning careers along with society’s expectations, Seth and I threw in the towel on The American Dream and started living for the alternative. This is when I rediscovered my huge yet dormant passion for writing. With the mental space to do so, the time, and intentionality, I’ve written a book. A non-fiction novel, sharing the first person perspective of jumping into the alternative.
Ever wondered what it would be like to set sail into an unknown sea of possibility, going for something that starkly contrasts all you’d ever imagined?
If you’re looking for an inspirational first person view of the adventure of a lifetime, risking it all, be sure to read Desy’s Diaries (releasing Oct. 2022) and listen to Campfire Currency (streaming everywhere now). If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to go all in, abandoning all you’ve ever been told to do and be, this book and these songs are for you, from two dreamers who forsook all to take the leap of a lifetime. We hope they inspire you to chase your dreams down while time is still on our sides.
Connect with Desy:
www.desysdiaries.com
[email protected]
Instagram & Facebook: @desydiaries
Connect with Seth:
www.sethbrownentertainment.com
[email protected]
Instagram & Facebook: @sethbrownentertainment
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
The entire dream of being a creative, an entrepreneur, and taking something unique to the world takes complete resiliency! Determination when running up against obstacles is the name of the game when you’re going at it your own way.
For me, living tiny, and continuing to believe for the dream’s fruition even when funds are low and so is my energy, have been marked moments of the deepest resiliency. Challenging, frustrating? Some days. Worth it? All of the days.
I hope my fellow dreamers, creatives, and entrepreneurs hear the whisper when the hard times come… it is worth it, keep going.
In your view, what can society to do to best support artists, creatives and a thriving creative ecosystem?
One thing I hope society becomes more aware of and appreciative for is this, when you’re down, need an escape, or want an adventure whether that be through book, song, story, art, movie, theatre, or the many other artistic expressions, you’re turning to a creative’s work. Those of us inspired, work hard to share with the world what we make, write, sing, and share.
Creatives and artists of all sorts are not only worth the financial compensation we deserve for our time and endless hours of effort, but also the recognition that comes with ingesting someone else’s original creation for your pleasure or entertainment.
The arts keep a society healthy and sane, recognizing it is a good start, being willing to freely compensate for it is next level and very appreciated! :)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.desysdiaries.com
- Instagram: @desysdiaries
- Facebook: @desysdiares
- Other: www.sethbrownentertainment.com Facebook & Instagram: @sethbrownentertainment
Image Credits
All image credits Seth and Desiree Brown EXCEPT – Brooklynne Grover for the shot of us as a couple.