Almost exactly one year ago, I wrote to you about my family of four’s plan to begin a nomadic family gap year. In today’s reflection, I share some key highlights and lessons learned. If you did not read last year’s post or want a refresh, find it here: Nomadic Life Begins.
The Matrix is What You Make It
The past 15 months, we have all experienced a disruption in routine in some form. What has become clear to me is that, even though I’ve often chosen the path less travelled in my life, my eyes have become wide open to so many different ways of living. What I accept is what defines and limits my possibilities. What I dream and make of life is what it really comes to be.
Observations from Our Experience
During our travels throughout the US, Costa Rica, and Mexico, I learned:
- By shifting our primary focus to family and slowing down we got to know our kids more for who they really are, rather than who we thought they were or should be.
- We can work from anywhere doing pretty much anything, and if the kind of work requires an internet connection, then choose wisely where you stay!
- Kids can go to school anywhere, including options for world-schooling, home schooling, and unschooling – the families and kids we met seemed so much happier, more grounded, and less stressed to not be part of the reality we had unplugged from.
- We have way too much stuff! Even though we donated and gave away a significant amount of our clothing, furniture, and other items before we left, we’ve been wondering all year “other than kitchen stuff, why exactly do we need all that other stuff we have in storage?”
- Flexibility and adaptability are critical: as you know from your own year, nothing can be planned or counted upon during a global pandemic. Our travel itinerary changed numerous times.
- Strong mental fitness makes for more easily riding the waves of unexpected change. If you’ve been reading and following my blog posts this past year, you know just how much I relied on and benefitted from the tools taught by Shirzad Chamine. By the way, I officially received my certification as a Positive Intelligence Mental Fitness Coach in early June!
A Gift of a Year!
My husband Matt, sons Ian and Miles, and I ultimately enjoyed a year that was more amazing than we could have ever planned. We enjoyed significantly more time with extended family, traveled to see beautiful and foreign geography in the west and southwest of the U.S. that we hope to return to see again, and were happily surprised that our international travels took us to Costa Rica twice and Baja California Sur in Mexico for these final three weeks. No Europe and no Asia as originally planned, and yet such a gift!
May My Crazy Year Inspire You
I’ll say again now what I said nearly one year ago: my hope is that my own successful experience pulling off our off-the-matrix, family nomadic gap year, may INSPIRE you to think about how YOU can enter into your GPS your desired dream, goal, or destination. Then, hold the space for it to come true in your heart, and adjust daily and weekly as new information becomes available, and experiences unfold.
In friendship,
Erin