Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? — Mary Oliver
If today was your forever, would you be happy living this same day on repeat?
For many, life feels like a cycle of obligations, responsibilities, and routines they never consciously chose. But for Li Dongju, also known as Lee, life became an adventure the moment she decided to rewrite her story.
The Moment Everything Changed
Before cycling, Lee described herself as “heavily dependent on others” and “a frog in a well.” She had spent years feeling trapped, living a life that felt small and unfulfilled. But in 2013, everything changed when she saw a group of cyclists whizzed past her. Their energy, their freedom—it sparked something deep within her.
At the time, she was struggling financially, surviving on a small pension, 3,000 yuan ($414) a month after being laid off from a state-owned textile factory in 2002. With barely any money to her name, she couldn’t afford a bicycle, but she started with what she could—a helmet. Later, her son gifted her a folding mountain bike which costs about 1,000 yuan ($138), and with that, her journey began.
The Road to Freedom
Lee dreamed of cycling to Tibet, but it felt impossible. She had only 170 yuan ($23.50) in savings. Determined, she worked as a house cleaner for a year, saving every cent until she could join two experienced cyclists on an adventure to Southeast Asia.
However, just a week into Vietnam, she found herself alone. The poorly equipped beginner, with nothing but a basic mobile phone and an entry-level bike, had lost her travel companions. She found herself alone in a foreign country but with the help of a kind Chinese-speaking local cyclist, she made her way home.
Undeterred., Lee spent the next few years training herself to be more comfortable travelling on bike. In 2015, she biked through 20 Chinese cities, with her only travel companion being her tiny brown poodle, Xili (“razor sharp”), nestled in her bicycle basket. She funded her travels by taking odd jobs, working in spas, washing dishes, and doing whatever she needed to keep going.
Expanding Her World
Two years later, at 59, she was ready for another challenge, this time equipped with a smartphone loaded with translation and map apps, a comprehensive travel plan, and two elderly cycling pals she met online.
When her two teammates were ready to call it quits and go home after about three weeks, this time, Li opted to continue her journey.
She cycled solo through Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar. Spending about 70 days total in the four countries, Li came back home with thousands of memory-loaded photos — and confidence to explore the world further.
In 2019, she took her dream to another level, biking through six European countries. She met an 80-year-old solo hiker in Croatia, chatted with bartenders in Bosnia using Google Translate, and learned how to snag discounted baguettes in French supermarkets by following local grannies.
Her adventures didn’t stop there. That same year, she flew to Australia, where she cycled along the Pacific Highway amid the country’s worst wildfires in decades. When she spotted smoke rising, she quickly filmed it and alerted the local police, preventing a serious fire from developing.
“I was so proud of myself,” she said. “I felt like I’d done a little bit for Australia.”
She continued on to New Zealand before returning home in 2020, just as the world was shutting down due to the pandemic. By then, she realized something incredible: travelling had cured her decade long depression, following her divorce in 2005. (Disclaimer: This is not medical advice. Always consult a professional regarding mental health treatment.)
Choosing Her Forever
Lee’s adventures haven’t been easy. She speaks only Mandarin, faced financial struggles, moments of uncertainty, and countless challenges along the way. But each morning, she wakes up with excitement, thinking about where she will go next. She gets to live her version of forever—one that is filled with movement, discovery, and the thrill of the unknown.
If today was Lee’s forever, it would be a life of adventure, freedom, and fearless exploration.
Your Turn to Reflect
If today was your forever, what would it look like? Would you be happy living this day on repeat? Or is there a version of life that feels more aligned with your wildest dreams?
Take a moment to journal on these prompts:
- If you had to live today on repeat forever, what would be missing? What would you change?
- What adventure or dream have you been postponing because it feels impossible?
- What small step can you take today to start shifting toward the life you truly want?
Life is happening now. Make sure your forever is a story worth living.
Let’s end this blog post with Lee’s words: Before cycling, I was heavily dependent on others … and felt like a frog in a well,” she said. “Now, I’m a wild wolf — free, fearless and independent
With all my heart,
Salima
