Real Life Stories, From Life on the Other Side of Should
Here you’ll find stories and reflections from people who are building life on their own terms: digital nomads, slow travellers and people who are forging their own path.
Featured Read
From Balance to Burnout: When the Digital Nomad Dream Starts to Fray
What happens when a life built on freedom starts to feel like a cage?
The digital nomad lifestyle promised everything — flexibility, freedom, fulfilment. But somewhere between sunrise deadlines and airport Wi-Fi, that promise can wear thin.
In this story, I reflect on the quiet unravelling that happens when a “dream life” becomes another form of hustle. It’s about the exhaustion that hides behind palm trees and productivity, and the slow rediscovery of what balance truly means.
Neil Hughes lost his wife Carol to cancer in 2025. Within weeks, he was on a plane to Belize and honouring a promise they made together over a James Bond martini in Monaco.
Shafinah Jaafar spent years racing through travel like a scoreboard. Now, based in Singapore, she's building a life around presence, intention, and participating fully in every day.
Zara Aitken travels solo, works flexibly, and lives by her own rules. Inspired by her nan and Nietzsche — a story about building something completely, unapologetically your own.
Natalie Rushing has a full-time job and a senior dog — and she's still built a life on her own terms. Her story is the one most nomad blogs forget to tell.
Maricla left Tuscany for Cambodia and never looked back. A freelance writer on what real freedom means, why location doesn't change you — and what does.
Giorgia Vicedomini is building a life of freedom and independence—one decision, one risk, one step at a time. Here’s what that really looks like.
Masha Eretnova left Russia, let go of a business, and slowly rebuilt a life of freedom and clarity across continents. This is her story of reinvention.
Lot Wildiers burned out in the 9–5 and built a life as a travel writer instead. In this honest story, she shares what freedom—and exhaustion—really look like.
Lynn Schroeder shares how slow travel became her version of freedom—and why choosing a life off the traditional path never felt like a risk.
Smita Bhattacharya shares how she redefined success, choosing a slower, more intentional life through travel, writing, and freedom.
Johanna left city life behind to return to the ancestral shores of Cebu. What she found was quiet, slowness, and a deeper sense of home.
James Fahey shares how he built a life of freedom—working online and travelling through Asia—one honest decision at a time.
Veronica Paula left a tech career, spent eight months in Southern Africa, and came home with a business idea. Her story is about building a life and a company on your own terms in a practical, deliberate way.