February 6, 2015 – St. Paul, Minnesota

“Guys, I think this is what I want to do with my life.”

It’s 2007, and I’m sitting in my living room with my roommate and his girlfriend. I recently had a revelation of sorts, enamored with my new line of work in the mental health field. As part of a direct care staff, I assisted individuals with mental disabilities in their homes and communities. Talk about stepping out of your comfort zone. In the beginning, I worked days and evenings. Eventually, though, I began primarily working asleep overnight shifts to focus on my education.

Wait…

…is there a degree in nomadism?

It’s 2013, and I’m living out of my car. In preparation for a Eurotrip, I sublet my apartment early and stored most of my stuff. When you’re working five overnights a week, who needs their own bed? I remember thinking at one point, “Can I make a lifestyle out of this?”

It’s 2015, and I’m still working in my sleep. And people call me a workaholic. Becoming comfortable working and sleeping in other people’s homes can have a dramatic effect on one’s life. For me, they were myriad. I grew less attached to my own home and belongings, became more focused on helping other people, and enjoyed starting my day with more free time because I had already put in a day’s work. More. Free. Time. Time that I can currently give to someone else – my wonderful hosts.

It’s amazing how our experiences can impact our lives, if we only let them.

“Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neale Donald Walsch