This summer, I drove 10,218 miles in 137 hours through 38 states in 30 days.

I called my trip the Road to Financial Wellness, a grassroots and social-media experiment to turn local money discussions into a national conversation on financial well being.

After my backpacking trip around the world in 2012, I realized I was able to live my dream lifestyle because I understood and improved my relationship with money.

I used the term "money mindfulness," which means being in the moment and fully aware of all the facts — financially and emotionally — to make better financial decisions. I've learned the importance of applying financial knowledge to help live your dream lifestyle.

I wanted to share this with the world — or at least, this summer, with the US.

My team of four participated in panel discussions; explored large cities and small towns; spoke with people at festivals and local coffee shops; and held events at churches, restaurants, barbecue joints, bars, colleges, and credit-union locations.

I had a mission, and that was to motivate and break the social taboo around money. I began that conversation by sharing these 11 money lessons with over 8,000 people.
1. Take advice from people who are living the life you want to live.
2. Have a lifestyle goal, not just a financial goal.
3. Be mindful of the financial conversations you're having and not having.
4. Wealth isn't measured by how much you spend, but by how much you've saved.
5. Beware of lifestyle inflation.
6. Live your dreams, not someone else's.
7. The purchase of goods and experiences are the same.
8. Cutting expenses is more powerful than increasing income.
9. Prioritize debt repayment.
10. Credit isn't the problem.
11. Money does buy