Walking as Medicine: How Grace Wabijn Traded Office Life for a Trip to Hungary

Many people dream of leaving the “system” behind, but Grace Wabijn actually did it. She quit her job, left the fluorescent office lighting behind, and set off on a months-long journey toward Budapest. In the middle of winter. We spoke with her about the raw reality of the road, the search for meaning, and how she supports her body during this physically exhausting challenge.

A life under fluorescent lighting

In fact, Grace already knew it in high school: the standard path wasn’t made for her. Not out of a lack of respect for rules, but from a deep desire to understand why we do the things we do. After exploring different studies and jobs in IT and account management, the proverbial stone in her stomach kept growing.

“I made safe choices out of a survival instinct I carried from my childhood,” Grace says. “But at a certain point, you can no longer ignore that inner voice. I felt so stuck physically and mentally that I needed something drastic to break my patterns.”

That “drastic” thing became walking. It started with the Pieterpad, but soon a radical thought emerged: what if I just keep walking? Toward her father in Hungary, straight through the winter.

A trial by fire in the snow

The choice for winter was partly practical—she needs to be back home in spring for her bees—but also the ultimate mental test. And that test came immediately.

“I had trained, but reality is different. By day two, the Netherlands was covered in a thick layer of snow. I got nervous, but it forced me to slow down right away. With frozen hands, even taking something out of your bag becomes a whole operation. That calmness and the acceptance that things unfold as they do is one of the most valuable lessons so far.”

Physical challenges and nutritional support

Anyone who demands peak performance from their body every day immediately notices when the balance is off. Grace quickly discovered that her body has different needs in the cold and under heavy exertion than it does behind a desk.

“In the evenings I fall asleep like a log, something that almost never happened at home because of endless overthinking. But I have to stay sharp about my nutrition. Because I can’t always cook extensively and variably on the road, I use supplements from Ergomax to support my body daily.”

• Shilajit: To support energy levels and natural resistance.

• Beef Liver: A natural source of nutrients such as vitamins A and B12, which help reduce fatigue.

• Magnesium: To support normal muscle and nervous system function.

• Electrolytes: “My water becomes ice cold, which makes me unconsciously drink less. The electrolytes in my bottle help me maintain my fluid balance, even when every sip is a challenge.”

Nineteen kilos of ballast

The first days were a “military operation.” Grace carried nineteen kilos on her back. “The extra pressure on my feet was incredibly heavy. On my first rest day, my boyfriend took five kilos of gear back with him. My toiletry bag was reduced to the essentials, extra power banks and plug strips disappeared. You quickly learn the difference between ‘useful’ and ‘necessary.’”

What replaced it? Pure practical convenience: a foam mat to sit on frozen benches for lunch, spikes for under her shoes, and rain pants to protect against the harsh wind.

Loneliness and confrontation

Walking is not just physical; it’s a mental mirror. Grace recalls her toughest moment so far, near Gouda. “I was exhausted after struggling through 16 kilometers of snow. I found a bench to sit for a moment, but there I was confronted by an aggressive man who started shouting at me. At a moment like that, when you’re already drained and just want rest and warmth, it hits hard.”

Yet it’s precisely these moments that make her stronger. “I’ve been working on self-development for years, but I was always stuck in my head. Out here on the road, I’m finally learning to truly feel what I need. I’ve become gentler with myself. The strict ‘drill sergeant’ inside me is now more often drowned out by a voice of pride and encouragement.”

What is real wealth?

The journey has radically changed Grace’s view of success. She sees around her how people lose time to the hustle of everyday life and the constant pressure to perform.

“Imagine the funeral of someone who was successful in the eyes of society: money, status, a big company. But if during the speeches there is no mention of connection or love, did that person really live? He reached the top, but perhaps of the wrong mountain.”

For Grace, everything she owns now fits into one bag. Her wealth lies in the connections with the people she meets and the freedom to determine her own timeline. “I’m not late. I’m exactly where I need to be.”

No way back

When Grace eventually reaches Budapest, she will no longer be the woman who left The Hague. “I’m not going back to how it was. I’m claiming my space, and I hope to inspire others to slow down, to feel, and to come home to themselves again. The form that will take is still unfolding, but one thing is clear: I now live on my own terms.”

Do you want to follow Grace’s inspiring journey? More than 40,000 followers joined in just a few weeks—take a look here.