After traveling 21 months as a digital nomad in 30+ countries on five different continents, I am now returning back to Copenhagen. Looking forward to reconnecting with my family and friends in Denmark and welcoming overseas friends to Denmark!
It has been an amazing journey, I want to say thanks to all the wonderful people I have met on my way. Thank you for inspiring me, thank you for being there for me, thank you for making me a better person.
I tried to jot down some key lessons from my travels:
- Passport privilege: Being able to travel, live and work almost anywhere in the world is truly a gift. It is something you might take for granted until you meet someone who cannot travel as freely as you. I am especially thinking of my friends in Bangladesh. I spent a couple of months in Bangladesh in 2016, and I had this discussion with my Bangladeshi friends. With a Danish passport, I can travel to 156 countries without a visa, whereas a Bangladeshi passport grants travel visa-free to 35 countries. Freedom of mobility is limited to the passport. As grateful I am for the opportunity to travel, as frustrated I am for the ones who do not have the same possibilities.
- Minimalistic lifestyle: I really do not need that many things in my life. Living with the bare necessities gives me more freedom. Essentially, everything that I can fit into my hand luggage is all I need. (Unless you go to Burning Man, then you need a tent, food, bike, tutu skirts, sleeping pads, food, rebars, sleeping bags, LED lights, food…)
- Relationships come and go: Traveling around the world means meeting new people and parting with them. It is all about enjoying the time together, creating new memories and most importantly being present. Even though everyone is moving in different directions, I strongly believe in “See you soon” rather than “Goodbye”.
- Disconnect to reconnect: Bye bye world. I spent 10 days on a silent meditation retreat in the mountains of Nepal. I did not have a eureka moment, but I found an inner calmness that I carry with me every day and remember in stressful times. I can highly recommend pulling the plug for a couple of days if your current situation allows you to do so.
- Intuition is a superpower: My gut feeling is always right. I need to listen more to it.
- Global Shapers Community: I love you guys!
For the lazy ones:
- Be present
- Be grateful for what you got
- Be love
As a millennial, I grew up in an electronics-filled and increasingly online and socially networked world. It is truly amazing, and I see Facebook, LinkedIn etc. as great tools to keep in touch with everyone. However, for the next couple of months, I will minimize my screen time, and be less responsive on various social media channels. Why? Well, there are two reasons. First, new career move, second, living more in the moment.