Travel is a Microcosm of Life's Biggest Lessons

What living off-grid on a small coastal Colombian peninsula taught me about expecting the unexpected

Hi friends!

I just wanted to start by saying I intended to get this out on Friday, but this life abroad always has other plans for me! (the thesis of this substack edition)

A window nearly fell on my head out of the wall at my Airbnb and I needed to relocate on Friday. I am ok, but I was a bit shaken up at the time. I caught the heavy window as it was falling down towards me, but the Airbnb host tried to blame me - adding to the stress of the situation.

Needless to say, I’m excited to start sharing more lessons and experiences as a digital nomad or, more accurately, described as a slow-mad these days. (You can expect new articles on Fridays - no commitment to a set cadence as this is purely from inspiration)

I describe slow-madding as spending more time in a country to get a deeper taste and sense of the culture and pulse of the land. This is the Life By Design I set out to create for myself 4 years ago now, but has taken on new forms since then.

Last week, I set off on an unforgettable road trip from Medellín to Cartagena—12+ hours by car with my boyfriend - a native Colombian. The 12+ hour drive was an adventure in itself, but what I experienced on this trip added layers and textures to this colorful co-creation of growth on my journey called life.

The truth is, I had no idea what to expect, nor did I know where we were staying, the conditions, etc. I was ready to completely let go of the reigns of control - needing to know what to expect, needing to prepare, fearing the worst etc. - or so I thought.

The other truth? Travel and a life abroad will teach you lessons you’d not experience any other way, AND it acts as a barometer of where you might still need to grow or learn a similar life lesson.

Travel invites you onto an entirely new journey - but you must be ready with your mind and heart open to this invitation.

And as easy as it is for me to jump to the next adventure, I’m working on being better at allowing space in between to reflect on my experiences and express them through stories and my expression.

City to the Sea

After a few days exploring Cartagena’s lively streets, the vibrant art scene, mouth-watering seafood, and the Afro-Latin cultural influences, we had plans to go to nearby Baru and Rosario Islands, where unbeknownst to me, life operates virtually off the grid.

In Cartagena, every street while vibrant and joyful had the noise, speed, and chaos of city life. On the islands, however, it was more about embracing a slower, peaceful pace with breathtaking landscapes yet lacking the basic conveniences of modern living.

A little background on these islands if you are interested - Baru is an idyllic peninsula often referred to as an island about an hour away from Cartagena by car - although a very bumpy ride as only half of it is paved and then by boat. It is a peninsula that juts out into the ocean surrounded by a 20+ remote islands called the Rosario Islands.

Life on these coastal Colombian islands is incredibly simple: bathing in rainwater, cooking over an open fire, and navigating dirt roads with no WiFi and minimal electricity due to solar power. After the first day of arrival, I chose to disconnect from work and fully embrace the slower pace. Luckily for me, my work was light that week, with no pressing projects on deck.

I did however struggle quite a bit with the unknown at first. Not knowing we wouldn’t have real showers, not very many restaurants or a proper kitchen was a surprise.

I was told I could go to a nearby hostel for wifi, yet most places on the island have uncertain amounts of electricity. It literally had no power lines at all. Everyone operates with solar power, using batteries as back ups.

I had to have a moment with myself to fully accept that I would live like a local - as someone who in another life would love to live off grid in a jungle somewhere disconnected from the world, I realized this was my chance to get a taste of something I was already curious about.

Don’t Pray for a Soft Life, Pray to Remain Soft Despite Life’s Hard Circumstances

One of the biggest shifts I’ve had to embrace as a nomad is that things rarely go according to plan or that surprises are lurking around every corner—whether that’s starting work later than anticipated due to heavy traffic or rain in Medellin or Mexico City, traveling on rough and sometimes dangerous terrain, trudging through unexpected rainstorms or walking up millions of steps just to experience a beautiful viewpoint.

Sometimes it’s having to pivot my entire routine because of power issues, whether it’s in Baru or Bacalar, Mexico. Surrendering to the moment is often the only way to keep your sanity intact and experience life as it is, and not how we want it to be all the time.

And an important reminder that this is a way of life for many people. Adaptability and resilience is what we should be praying for - not a “soft life” or an easy life. And to be able to remain a soft woman despite life’s challenging yet inevitable circumstances is something I strive for every day.

A life abroad means learning and empathizing with the intricacies and hardships of those who live there and remembering that the next time you want to complain that things aren’t easier or more convenient for you.

And, of course, remembering why you chose this lifestyle - that despite all the surprises, the unexpected circumstances, the weather, the poor infrastructure or roads - we get to experience the most magical places that others can only dream of ever experiencing.

Experiencing Life as is, and Not how You Planned it

The slower island life and the hectic streets of populous cities are extremes, but they both offer the same lesson: be present and open to the flow of life and what might unfold.

When I let go of expectations, I found joy in new, yet unexpected experiences—like grilling fish in banana leaves and drinking fresh coconuts falling from trees or connecting with locals through my basic Spanish and body language - which is another interesting yet challenging way to be present with others.

While there were a few intriguing experiences during our time there, I won’t get into all of them in this Substack. But the one that was the highlight of the trip and one that reflects experiencing life as it is and not how you planned it?

— The local we stayed with had a boat, which was the main plan - to go out boating each day we were there, snorkel, attempt fishing, and explore uninhabited islands. But the real treat was when we were in the right place at the right time.

About an hour before sunset, we spotted a few dolphins about 50 yards away from us in between two islands out at sea.

Nothing brought out the joy of feeling like a child in ecstatic bliss when these playful dolphins came up on either side of our boat as we moved at a slow speed. They began to swim alongside us for a few minutes, with many other schools of dolphins surrounding our boat.

What if a Life of Uncertainty (a life abroad) Felt like Freedom?

Life rarely unfolds as expected, whether you’re navigating a bustling city or exploring a remote island, whether it’s being cut off from the outside world unintentionally or being surprised by a school of dolphins.

But when you learn to surrender to what’s happening instead of resisting it, you start to see that every twist, turn, and delay can bring a new experience you didn’t know you needed.

You can slowly but surely stop fearing the unknown and allow a life abroad - whether you currently have one or aspire to have - to feel like freedom.

If you’d like to follow along as I share more through my lens of exploration and a life abroad —and the lessons it brings—feel free to subscribe!