I’ve been part of the Yes Fam since the Project 30 days. Saying “yes” and growing through discomfort has shaped so much of who I am—on paper and in the messy, magical moments in between.
A few months ago, I said yes again. I booked a trip to South Africa, not knowing what was waiting for me, only that I felt called to go. Just days into the trip, I found myself hiking the Tsitsikamma Trail… with a fever. I had thrown up that morning and probably should’ve stayed in bed, but something in me refused to quit. I hiked anyway. I was the last to reach the campsite, but when I arrived, the other trekkers welcomed me without hesitation.
I changed into my swimsuit, wandered down to a natural pool, and stretched out on a sun-warmed rock with my book. There was a stillness there—a feeling of being completely alive in the middle of nowhere. Later, I rinsed off in an outdoor shower overlooking the mountains, and it felt like a dream I didn’t want to wake up from.
That night, I headed to the grill clutching a sad can of tuna. I wasn’t expecting much. Then a woman my age looked at me and said, “There’s no way I’m letting you eat that.” She grilled me a full plate—sandwich, sausage, steak. Then she handed me juice, a sweatshirt, and something even more nourishing: genuine kindness.
We sat and talked for hours. About home. Family. Dreams. We laughed, we prayed, we traced constellations under a sky untouched by city lights. And when I finally asked her name, she said, “Danielle.”
That’s my name too.
From there, the synchronicities just kept unfolding. We shared traditions, values, old stories and new hopes. For the next two days, we were inseparable—hiking, swimming, dancing. A few weeks later, we trained for a half marathon together, running it on the same day: she in South Africa, me in Texas.
Now, across continents and time zones, we talk every day. She’s asked me to be her bridesmaid this December. She offered her house, her clothes, and every ounce of support to help make sure I could be there. I’ve never felt more honored.
What started with a stranger’s kindness in the wild became a friendship I know will last a lifetime.
So here’s what I’ll say to you:
Take the trip.
Go alone.
Say hi to the stranger.
You never know where it might lead.
- Danielle DeMoes
Check out Danielle's Instagram for more adventures!