This summer, I put my life on hold to travel across my new home country of Canada, with the goal of hitting all the big cities. It was a 10-week long solo expedition, which has now reached its last week. As I reminisce and introspect on what I’ve experiences, I noticed that the longer you’re on the road, the more blurry your notions of reality become. It’s hard to picture how life used to be.

I can imagine, to an extent, that this is how musicians and performers on tours feel. You just move from bed-to-bed, staying about a week in each place. Eating random foods, and walking everywhere in the hopes that it counts as a workout. Towards the last week, I just wanted to get back to normalcy, to stability.

There’s a certain duality that comes with being a digital nomad. You meet so many amazing people, with some short-lived interactions. You spend time in some of the greatest cities, though you gradually miss home. You experience more of life than you can imagine, without the stability to fully comprehend what you’re experiencing.

It does take a certain mindset to travel, and I do see the benefits of doing this earlier in life. Not to state that I’m too old for this, but I realize the differences that come from age. I’ve been grateful to have this privilege - to travel to explore, to see the world. Its a double-edged sword, a lifestyle that time to adapt to, and not something that all of us can afford.

I’ve had a taste, just a simple taste, of a life without limits, and though it seems enticing, it could also be hollow. This time off has shown me what I can do, and more importantly, what I can’t do. It’s given me a lot of opportunities, some that I embraced, some that I shyed away from.

Here are some things I’ve learnt

Time and effort take on a whole new meaning

I spent ten weeks when eight would have been fine. Next time I do this, I’ll stick within a more thought out time block, so I can really enjoy the place on my own . Solo travel is intimidating, and it really puts into perspective the quote ‘Your best looks different every day’.

Some days you will conquer the world, make close friends, and incredible memories.

Some days, you will lay in bed in the fecal position and just let it go by, as the depression lingers on.

But this kind of journey really shows you that every day is different. What you thought you could do, doesn’t always come to fruition, and sometimes you just gotta take a shower and call it a day.

Community is important

It's time to start giving back. I enjoyed this year by myself, but I reached the point where I realized, I can’t do all of this alone. I need to start building a community of people that I can do things with. That includes a friend circle, romantic relationships and getting closer to my family.

The longer you stay away, the more detached you become. Just being on the road for 10 weeks (which, in perspective, is 20% of the year), you start to disassociate from the reality you know, the stuff you’re raised on.

And it's quite challenging to come back.

I knew I was coming back, but for those attempting these trips, remember, it's easy to just go along with it, to just think that your life is simple and breezy and living on constant vacation mode is amazing. But for me, it really wasn't. I have responsibilities and a purpose, neither of which were getting anywhere on my travels. I can’t escape the person I am by going somewhere else, and being somewhere else. I enjoyed being selfish and putting myself first, but too much of it isn't a good thing.

This lifestyle isn't for me (yet)

I don't really function too well in chaotic environments and this journey was a chance for me to see if I could. And maybe there’s more I will take in the future, but for the time being, I have realized that this solo-travel lifestyle isn’t something I can do long term.

I would definitely love to do it in short bursts, maybe a month tops, but it doesn't look like I can pull this off longer than 2 months. Towards the midpoints, it was really challenging to keep my mental health in form. And during the last few weeks, I was dying to go back to a point of stability.

I feel if I need to do this, then I will need to have a plan to myself, so I can really not worry about anything else. But at the same time, I don't think I can work while doing it, so there’s needs to be a significant chunk of the trip assigned to ‘Vacation Mode’

But as it all comes to an end, and a chapter closes, it's been a wild ride. Year 1 in Canada was all kinds of crazy. I did so many things that I couldn’t imagine, and most of the things that the States didn’t allow me to. And I’m very grateful.

This freedom comes from a certain point of priviledge. Not everyone can afford this. And I won’t deny it took plenty of sacrifice and struggle to make it this far. I’m proud of myself for taking the leap. It’s the same journey, with a different sense of purpose.

Time to move onwards to the next adventure. I’m proud of myself for taking the leap. It’s the same journey, with a different sense of purpose.