My Story.
From Marine to Warrior Walker
Hi, I’m Paul Harris, also known as The Warrior Walker. My life has been a rollercoaster of experiences—some incredible, some soul-crushing—but every step has led me to where I am today.
Let me take you through the journey that brought me here.
Finding Purpose in the Marines
I spent four and a half years serving in the Royal Marines, including a tour in Afghanistan. The Marines taught me discipline & resilience. It was a chapter of my life I’ll never forget, but like many veterans, I found myself searching for a new purpose when I left.
From Marines to Reality TV
Shortly after my time in the marines, I appeared on Channel 4’s hit reality show Shipwrecked. The show challenged participants to live on a tropical island with minimal resources, relying on their ingenuity and teamwork to thrive. This experience gave me the buzz I needed after coming out of the marines.
From Marines to Reality TV
Shortly after my time in the marines, I appeared on Channel 4’s hit reality show Shipwrecked. The show challenged participants to live on a tropical island with minimal resources, relying on their ingenuity and teamwork to thrive. This experience gave me the buzz I needed after coming out of the marines.
Living the Dream in Thailand
After my stint on Shipwrecked, I moved to Thailand and began what I thought was my dream job—teaching kindergarden. For seven years, I poured my heart into this role, loving every moment of helping young minds grow. Thailand became my home, but life threw me an unexpected curveball when visa renewal issues forced me to leave the country and return to the UK.
A Life I Hated
Back in the UK, I took a job at a call center, and to be honest, I hated every second of it. I felt trapped, disconnected, and completely lost. It was a far cry from the life I’d envisioned for myself. I was drowning in unhappiness, and I knew I couldn’t keep living like that.
One day, a friend offered me some life-changing advice:
“I can see you walking around Great Briton then writing a book on it”
It seemed wild and impossible at first, but something inside me clicked.
Becoming The Warrior Walker
Three weeks after my friend’s suggestion, I quit my job, packed a bag, and started walking. I set up an Instagram account, The Warrior Walker, to document my journey, never imagining how much it would change my life.
That first lap around the UK? It was brutal. I cried my way through it. I had no plan, no money, and no idea what I was doing. But along the way, strangers took me in, offered me kindness, and showed me that people truly care. It felt like therapy—a kind of healing I didn’t know I needed.
Becoming The Warrior Walker
Three weeks after my friend’s suggestion, I quit my job, packed a bag, and started walking. I set up an Instagram account, The Warrior Walker, to document my journey, never imagining how much it would change my life.
That first lap around the UK? It was brutal. I cried my way through it. I had no plan, no money, and no idea what I was doing. But along the way, strangers took me in, offered me kindness, and showed me that people truly care. It felt like therapy—a kind of healing I didn’t know I needed.
Walking for a Cause
“The Victory Lap”
The walk had changed my life so much that I wanted to pay it forward even more. That’s when I decided to do it all again—this time in just 12 months!
I called it The Victory Lap, and it was my way of saying thank you to the people that had supported me along my journey.
I realised I couldn’t repay the kindness I was receiving in a traditional sense – I didn’t have money or resources to give back. But I could raise money for charities close to my heart.
To date, I’ve raised about £10,000 for MIND, the Great North Air Ambulance, Samaritans, and Doctors Without Borders.
Knowing my journey was making a difference kept me going, step after step.
Lessons Along the Way
If I’ve learned anything from this adventure, it’s the importance of talking. As a former Marine, I used to bottle everything up. I thought I had to be tough, silent, and self-reliant. But opening up has been life-changing. Talking has unburdened me, helped me grow, and made me feel like a better person.
So, if you’re struggling, my advice is simple: just talk.
