The Life of a Digital Nomad: Celebrating Life

Last month, I celebrated life in a few different ways.

Early in November, my paternal grandmother turned 90. Her birthday was the main reason I wanted to be in Quebec so early, many weeks before the holidays. That, and the fact that she would be moving into a home shortly after her big day. 70 years living in her house! I had cried over the thought, and knew I wanted to be nearby for the transition.

My lifestyle and remote work made that possible. And I'm not the kind of person to use the cost of flights as an excuse to put love and family second. So there I was, in a coliving house, a 45 minutes drive away from my grandma's hometown.

I celebrated her 90 years with so many other members of my amazing family. Moved by the laughter, the memories and the effort everyone had made to be there. And perhaps a bit moved by the sparkling wine too!

Cabin weekend, wearing my father's old hunting jacket

Moments like these are what life is about.

They are more important than all the money and the "successes" and the fame in the world. Most people know this... yet most also need to be constantly reminded; while making decisions that do not appear to align with this priority. So if this resonates, here is your reminder!

Two days after the birthday dinner, it was time for my grandma's big move. The day coincided with the seven year anniversary of my father's passing. Her son. It broke my heart in a new way. I wished he could have been there for her. I wondered if it would have made the transition easier. I even wondered if it would have happened completely differently. For the first time, I grieved her loss more than I grieved mine. And it still aches while I write these words...

Celebrating life sometimes means celebrating death too. But not in a macabre way. I believe it is important to contemplate death from time to time. Others' and our own. To keep our life in check and ask; am I moving closer to my dreams? Am I growing into a better person? A woman my father would be proud of?

My little November office space

I like to think the answer to all of it is yes. And I believe that a part of that growth is my role as an aunt to my niece and nephew. Another great reason for my extended visit. Through visiting my grandma at her new apartment, I made time to hang out with my sister and her kids.

I absolutely love being an aunt. But no matter how much I love my niece and nephew, it is near impossible to build a strong connection without physically being here to create a bond. I do feel that every time I get to spend time with them though, it makes it easier to maintain a relationship when I inevitably go back to my side of the country (or other parts of the world!).

So November was peppered with kids movies, a pyjama party, shenanigans, shared meals, hide and seek, bedtime stories and cuddles. Truly exhausting for a single woman with no dependants! But very enjoyable nevertheless.

The last way I want to mention I celebrated life is through my coliving experience.

Sharing a house with strangers can be an adventure in itself. And I am not sure I believe in coincidences... which means I was probably meant to meet the people who ended up there at the same time I did.

My peace amidst a bit of chaos

Our group faced challenges that seemed to highlight our individual struggles. We had to navigate each other's energies and turmoils. And I am proud to say that I managed to retain my peace through the chaos. I also succeeded in staying true to myself, remaining a positive influence in the house. Although I couldn't easily connect with everyone present, I definitely made new friends and on November 28, I left satisfied with the experience. Happy I trusted my intuition to book a room at the Triangle de l'île; celebrating my ability to allow my life to flow as it will.

I finished the month at my mom's house, where I would stay for a week, probably dealing with the good and ugly sides of my inner child...