15 Things I Love About Being a FREE Nomad
Would you believe me when I say that losing everything was the best thing that ever happened to me?
Yes, that’s true! That realization happened while I stood on that mountain top in Vietnam, watching the "Fairy Bosom Hills" stretch out before me.
I made 600K in crypto. Then, I lost it all. Freedom isn't what I thought it was.
After traveling to over 40 countries, building and losing wealth, and searching for meaning from the mountains of Austria to the ashrams of India, I've discovered that true freedom goes far beyond a fat bank account or a location-independent lifestyle.
Here are the 15 things I've come to love most about being a truly FREE nomad – financially, mentally, and physically liberated in ways I never imagined.
1. The Morning View Changes (But The Sunrise Wisdom Doesn't)
I've seen some pretty incredible sunrises. Like, watching the first light paint the Ganga in India, feeling that crisp mountain air in Austria, or even just hearing the trains rumble to life in Hanoi's Train Street. Waking up somewhere new, with that fresh, 'anything is possible' feeling... it just hits you in the best way.
But the quiet and peaceful feeling of the sunrise stays the same, no matter where you are. And it's in those still, quiet moments where I’m not chasing some fleeting number on a screen that I found what real freedom feels like.
It's a gentle reminder that the most beautiful things are constant, and they're waiting for us, every single morning, if we just take a moment to notice.
Doesn't that just make your heart feel a little lighter?
2. Bitcoin as a Tool, Not an Identity
I used to be the guy with Bitcoin stickers all over his suitcase (literally – my big blue suitcase in Delhi was covered in them). It was practically a walking Bitcoin billboard! I thought financial liberation was the ultimate goal.
But, life has a funny way of teaching you things. I've come to see Bitcoin as this incredible tool, this amazing way to book flights, get paid from anywhere, and keep control of your money.
But I realized that freedom wasn't about how many coins I had. It was when I stopped letting my crypto holdings define who I was, when I stopped seeing myself as 'the Bitcoin guy,' that I finally felt... lighter. More me.
I appreciate what Bitcoin does, but it's just a part of my story, not the whole thing. And that shift was where real freedom started to bloom.
If you want to start building your own passive income, read my guide on The Reality of Passive Income in Crypto: Separating Myths from Opportunities – Unlocking Sustainable Earnings with DeFi, Staking & NFTs
3. Cultural Lessons You Can't Buy
Traveling really opens your eyes in ways you just can't imagine. Dubai, for example, is this dazzling place where everything looks so free and open, but underneath, you start to see these different ways people can be bound.
And then you go somewhere completely different, like Vietnam. I remember just watching people in Hanoi, maybe not having much in terms of 'stuff,' but sitting there, laughing, sharing sunflower seeds in the middle of all that energy. There was this genuine joy and freedom in their spirit that had absolutely nothing to do with money. It was beautiful.
What I love most is collecting these cultural insights that no amount of money could ever buy. Like when I learned that in Finland, companies pay employees a "welcome back bonus" after their summer vacations, recognizing that the transition back to work isn't easy and showing a deep cultural appreciation for work-life balance.
4. Embracing Temporary Roots
Enjoying Cyprus with english breakfast
Oh, Cyprus... that place holds such a special spot in my heart. It wasn't just about renting an apartment, it was about Andri who welcomed me like family. And the little things! Like learning that 'seven o'clock' in Cyprus is more of a gentle suggestion, a lovely, relaxed 'sometime after' – I had to slow down and just embrace that rhythm.
That's one of my favorite things about this nomadic life, this feeling of putting down temporary roots wherever you land. Those temporary connections often become the most permanent, cherished treasures you carry with you long after you've moved on.
Like your heart collects these little pieces of the world and the people in it.
5. Healing Comes in Unexpected Packages
After losing 600k in crypto in a snap, I found myself in an ashram in India, swallowing a white cloth (yes, really) as part of a yogic cleansing ritual. That Dhauti cloth practice pulled out more than just physical toxins – it began a process of emotional and mental purification too.
What's been so incredible about this journey is discovering these completely unexpected paths to healing in different corners of the world. From the intense heat of a Finnish sauna to the quiet peace of those Cyprus mornings by the sea, to that strange but powerful cloth in India. These experiences have given me tools for well-being that I never, ever would have found if I'd stayed on a more 'normal' track.
So healing did come in the most surprising packages, and the world is full of them if you're open to seeing them.
6. The Perfect Meal Isn't About Price
I've eaten a gold-covered steak at Nusret in Dubai (60 dollars for two slider burgers!) But then you have these simple, perfect bites that just blow you away. Like those incredible Banh Mi sandwiches you can grab on the streets of Hanoi for next to nothing.
It really makes you realize that true freedom isn't about chasing the most expensive thing on the menu. It's about being able to truly appreciate the perfect harmony of flavors in a humble bowl of Vietnamese pho, the warmth of sharing Korean BBQ with friends, or that incredibly refreshing taste of Lonkero after a good Finnish sauna.
The ability to find joy in both luxury and simplicity is real wealth.
7. Lessons You Can Only Learn Through Contrast
Honestly, some of the most profound lessons I've learned on this journey have come from these wild shifts in scenery and experience. Like going from the absolute stillness of a silent meditation hall in an Indian ashram to the complete chaos of Hanoi's traffic – all in the space of a week!
I love how this nomadic life just throws these incredible contrasts at you. One day you're having this deep, spiritual moment in meditation, and the next you're just trying to learn how to pass through a sea of motorbikes in Vietnam!
Each transition teaches you that your comfort zone is really just something you've built up in your mind. It stretches you, it challenges you, and it forces you to grow in ways you never expected.
8. A New Definition of Wealth
I had this moment in a tiny village in Vietnam, watching the Hmong people. They were living as they had for generations, and what struck me was this incredible sense of presence. No one was rushing, no one was glued to a screen. They were just... there, connected to each other and the moment.
Then it really hit me how much my definition of wealth has changed. It's not about the numbers in my bank account anymore. True abundance is in those moments of pure, unadulterated presence and in the simple ability to truly appreciate what's right in front of you. That feels richer than any amount of money.
9. Learning to Let Go Meaningfully
Oh man, I had this heart-stopping moment in Paris once. My wallet just vanished somewhere along the Seine. For a split second, panic set in. But then I remembered a little travel hack I'd picked up which was safely tucking away my crypto card in my toiletry bag.
Being a Free Nomad has taught me to prepare for the unexpected while simultaneously letting go of attachments. Whether it's material possessions, rigid plans, or even my own expectations…
Freedom comes in the release, not the grip.
10. Finding Teachers Everywhere
My idea of a 'teacher' has completely transformed on this journey. It's not just the wise figures in ashrams anymore. It's been the Finnish locals patiently showing me the right way to experience a sauna, the Vietnamese families giggling as they taught me the knack of cracking sunflower seeds with my teeth, even the taxi driver in Dubai sharing stories about his family back home.
I love how being a Free Nomad opens you to learning from everyone and everything. When you're constantly in new environments, everyone becomes your teacher if you're humble enough to learn.
11. The Joy of Small Rituals
In Finland, it was the daily sauna. In India, the morning Kapalabhati breathing practice. In Cyprus, the sunrise swims in the Mediterranean.
Creating portable rituals that ground me regardless of location has been one of the most freeing discoveries of nomadic life. . These tiny, consistent practices create a sense of continuity across continents and bring a little bit of calm amidst all the beautiful, constant change.
12. The Paradox of Structure and Freedom
When I first landed in that ashram, I really pushed back against the schedule. Wake up at the crack of dawn, meditate for hours, eat at set times, more yoga... it felt so restrictive. But then this really surprising thing happened: within that very structure, my mind actually started to quiet down. And in that stillness I found this deeper sense of inner freedom I hadn't experienced before.
It's this fascinating paradox I've come to appreciate in nomadic life. Sometimes, having the right kind of structure in place can actually increase your freedom, rather than limit it. That commitment to morning meditation, for example, creates so much more mental clarity and freedom throughout the day than just hitting the snooze button ever could.
13. The Ultimate Business Education
Dubai was a tough but invaluable business lesson for me. I jumped into a learning platform venture based on trust, just verbal agreements, no contracts. And then, one day, the message came: 'No more money in the company.' Ouch.
But that experience has given me this incredible, real-world business education. I've had to adapt to different business cultures, communication styles, and ethical frameworks and that creates an education no MBA could provide.
Enjoying so far? I recommend reading this insightful post as well: The Countries That Changed How I See Money Forever
14. A More Honest Relationship with Myself
There have been these moments on the road that have really stripped things back for me. Standing on top of Arthur's Seat in Edinburgh, just gazing out at the city, or even just practicing headstands in the corner of our little Hanoi Airbnb while Hong was editing. Those quiet, solitary moments in unfamiliar places forced me to be so much more honest with myself than I think I ever would have been back 'home.'
The freedom of this nomadic life isn't just about moving from place to place. It's this incredible psychological freedom that comes from shedding all those layers of social conditioning and expectations, until you're finally face-to-face with your true, authentic self.
15. The Understanding That Home Is Within
After all this time, all the frantic searching for 'freedom' across different continents, I finally had this profound realization: freedom isn't some destination you can travel to. It's not a certain amount of money in your account. It's not even a particular way of living.
True freedom is a state of mind.
It's that ability to find peace within yourself, no matter what's going on around you. And what I cherish most about being a 'free nomad' is knowing that no matter where I lay my head – whether it's in a fancy hotel in Hanoi or a simple room in an Indian ashram – that sense of freedom comes from inside me.
Finding Freedom in the Present Moment
I used to chase the illusion that freedom was the ability to buy my way through life. But what I've discovered is real freedom isn't about having everything you desire, it's about finding peace and contentment in whatever is.
My journey has etched these lessons onto my soul:
Money can alleviate financial stress, but it can't fill the void of a missing purpose, genuine connection, or inner peace.
Exploring the world can broaden your horizons immeasurably, but only if you open yourself up to being truly transformed by the cultures and perspectives you encounter.
The most precious asset we possess isn't a digital currency or a physical possession, it's our ability to be fully present in each and every moment.
So, the next time that yearning for freedom stirs within you, ask yourself: If everything external were stripped away tomorrow – your wealth, your belongings, your social standing – would that inner sense of freedom still remain?
Choose peace, choose presence, choose the freedom that no external force can ever take away.
If you want to go beyond the surface of financial freedom and explore what truly matters, subscribe now. Let’s talk about freedom together – not just as a destination, but as a way of being. Let me teach you how.
“The Understanding That Home Is Within” - and then you’ll find yourself at home everywhere 💕
Thank you for this post, it was wholesome and genuine heartfelt piece of writing !