nomad

Life Lessons - Living Your Best Life

The Grounded Nomad

April 21, 2020 by 0 Comments

For most of the past few years, I haven’t stayed in the same city for more than 10 days at a time.  Even on my longer work assignments, I used my free weekends to explore nearby towns or states or countries.  Driving to Montreal from Maine is still one of my favorite trips.  On one such trip, the beautiful countryside provided a peaceful ride, I stumbled upon a street festival and downtown sidewalk sale, relaxed in a hotel downtown, and toured the historic Basilica all in the course of less than 2 days.      

All my travel, like most of the world, came to a screeching halt last month.  So where does a nomad shelter-in-place?  As you all know by this point, I love the freedom and flexibility of being a nomad.  But I respect the seriousness of COVID-19 and the importance of social distancing and limiting unnecessary exposure to others during a time of many unknowns.  I am humbled by those essential workers on the front-line, healthcare workers, custodial staff, truck drivers, grocery store employees and emergency responders to name a few.

Many nomads around the world have hunkered down wherever they happened to be at the time.   Others rushed home during the initial chaos and confusion around the closing of the US borders.  Many, like me, are in limbo until we can safely and comfortably travel again.  After I canceled trips to Kansas, California and Georgia, I decided to shelter-in-place in Maryland, the location of my last assignment.  I am grateful for friends who have taken me in over the last few weeks and the hotels who have remained operational to accommodate those of us without a permanent residence.

In this time, it is important to reflect on members of our society who always have housing instability.  Our homeless population continues to be at increased risk.  With shelters closed due to constraints of social distancing, more people are left without access to food, shelter and bathrooms.  This population already faces huge health concerns on a regular day and the CDC recommendations to keep us safe don’t apply to a group that can’t “just stay home” or “quarantine and chill.”

As the country plans to re-open to a new normal, many lessons can be learned.  As a nation, we have united and supported each other in extraordinary and compassionate ways.  My wish is that we continue to band together to protect our most vulnerable populations, to re-evaluate the definition of the essential worker and remember how we can be better together.

https://www.wired.com/story/coronavirus-covid-19-homeless/
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/homeless-shelters/index.html

***photos from Montreal, Canada 2018

Life Lessons - Living Your Best Life

The Nomad Christmas List

December 5, 2019 by 2 Comments

My mother asked me what I wanted for Christmas last year.  I replied, “nothing”.  Afterwards, I realized that may not have been the best response.  I wasn’t trying to be rude, but following the Christmas holidays, I was immediately traveling out of the country on vacation.  On my return, I headed off to two work assignments, in two different states.   While I love receiving gifts, it can sometimes be challenging to fit extra items in my suitcase.

So for those out there with nomadic loved ones, let me offer you some suggestions.  Though remember, for many of us, nothing is an acceptable answer, your love and support is gift enough.

  1. Give something experiential.  Tickets to a show, concert, movie or a gift card to white water raft, canoe or zipline.  Cover the costs of a language, art or cooking class.  Gift certificates to spa treatments, gym memberships or exercises classes that can be used in multiple locations.  These experiences are invaluable and are transferable in the mind or body. 
  2. Give something consumable.  Food and beverage always work!  Whether it’s a home cooked meal, Garrett’s popcorn, Grippos potato chips, Cane’s Lemonade or a well-aged Kentucky Bourbon (oh wait, that’s my list!)… But you get my point.  What does your nomad like that’s hard to find when traveling the country or the world? 
  3. Give something sentimental.  A small picture or memento that can be placed in a journal, a pin or pen that expresses hometown pride or a handwritten card that shares a little encouragement will go a long way.  It can get lonely on the road; these little things help tide us over.
  4. Give something travel related.  Your nomad may need an adapter for international travel, packing cubes, rechargeable batteries or a blanket.  A backpack, suitcase, sleep sack or sleeping bag may need to be replaced.  How can you make traveling more comfortable or efficient for your nomad?
  5. Give the gift of technology.  How does your nomad communicate or document her travels?  A new phone or camera may be helpful.  A smart watch could make communication and fitness more efficient. 
  6. Give something wearable but small.  Necklace? Friendship Bracelet? Earrings? Navel ring?  What can you give your nomad to wear that won’t take up much space or add much weight that will still remind him of you?
  7. Give the gift of travel.  How does your nomad make it from one destination to the next?  A gas card or airline, train or bus gift card may be helpful in traveling to their next stop.

For those of you up for an adventure, meet us out on the road.  It’s always lovely to see a familiar face in an unexpected place!

Life Lessons - Living Your Best Life

What Being a Nomad Means to Me

October 21, 2019 by 0 Comments

I’ve been extra nomadic over the past few months.  Since I’ve started my journey, my normal has been to be in one city for 10-14 days, at least, before traveling again.  Lately I’ve been averaging maybe 4 days in city before moving on to the next.  It has been exhilarating and exhausting!  But at the end of the day, I love it.

What being a nomad means to me…

  • Sometimes forgetting what city I’m in… I’ve woke up on more than one occasion with a cautious survey of the room to remind myself whose house or hotel I was sleeping.  I’ve forgotten where I parked, and I’ve even gotten into the wrong car.
  • Being flexible.  With the frequent travel, plans change, work schedules evolve, and flights get canceled.   Being able to adjust on the fly and adapt is necessary.
  • Learning how to pack enough, but not too much.  I travel with the same items for 4 to 12 weeks depending on my schedule.  I have to prepared for not only seasonal changes but also clinical work, recreational activities, formal events, workouts and who knows when I’ll find my way to the beach or a pool.  In addition to clothes, I need my laptop, toiletries and hair essentials (that I may not be able to find in some of the towns I find myself).
  • Being content my own company.  Honestly, I probably hang out with my friends more than most.  I’ve seen 2 of my friends who live in separate states, at least 6 times over the past 6 months.  But there are weeks that I see no one.  I am comfortable taking myself out to dinner or happy hour or just on a walk.
  • Though I’m constantly traveling, I’m not constantly on vacation.  Being mindful of my spending, eating habits and physical activity is a must to be responsible and provide some level of consistency.

How long will I live this way?  Short answer, I don’t know… Being nomadic is definitely a personal journey and not for everyone.  I’ve met a several people over the last few years who have been location independent for various amounts of time in their lives.  Some planned to be nomadic for a finite number of months or years.  Others became fatigued with the travel, some stopped to start families or for a permanent job opportunity.  We’ll see what life brings my way.  For now, my journey continues.

Life Lessons

Avenues of Communication

September 1, 2019 by 0 Comments
London 2016

As I try to continue to hone my writing skills both medical and non-medical, I have sought out opportunities to grow said skills across multiple avenues.

As a freelance physician editor and medical reviewer, I have learned to review information and synthesize an opinion influenced by my medical training as an Ob/Gyn.  Blogging allows me to write in a more informal conversation manner. 

Recently, an online magazine presented me the chance to give medical commentary regarding a very common gynecological concern.  This project required I write in a different way:  answering questions concisely and in language a general audience would understand and appreciate.

These different avenues of communication allow me to reflect on the importance of how I communicate and how to communicate effectively in each platform.  As physicians, how we deliver information, is just as important as the words we use, to ensure our patients “hear” us.

I believe oscillating between these modalities has improved my use of language and facilitated better interactions across the board, between friends, co-workers and patients.

https://www.bustle.com/p/what-causes-painful-periods-7-signs-your-cramps-may-be-due-to-a-health-issue-18169357