The clock on the dashboard of my car is a minute slower than the time displayed on my phone. However, inside the comfort of my mid-sized SUV, it seems as if all life stands still. It’s both a blessing and a curse.
In March 2020, I was sent to work from home, unsure of when I could return to the office I had just started working at only a week prior. When the company let go of numerous people in the office, I was left searching for a new opportunity. So I took up freelancing and became a digital nomad. I dove head-first into becoming a small digital content creator and spent all my free time in nature or traveling on the road.
For the past three years, I’ve experienced a lifestyle I would have never attempted without a series of unfortunate events. During these three years, I’ve found myself volunteering as an outdoor educator for Outward Bound Adventures and backpacking for nine days with teens in the High Sierras, working as a brand ambassador at Coachella, and becoming an Adventure Guide for Black Girls Trekkin. I’ve also experienced getting two agents and doing some modeling and acting, climbing to the top of Mount Whitney for the first time, and living as a nomad in the desert.
Without the photos and video, it all feels like a made-up blur. I’ve had to go through my phone recently, even to recall everything that happened to me during this time. For example, I recently opened up the HipCamp app on my phone to a review left about me by the desert host family I affectionally refer to as my hippie grandparents in my head.
“Jasmine is a return visitor to the LovelightRanch, and we love having her. She’s a trouble-free and friendly guest whom we’ve truly enjoyed hosting. We hope to see you and your friends for Coachella or sooner. Thanks for coming out again. Mikey & JoAnne @the LovelightRanch.”
I thought back to the handful of dogs I fell in love with who roamed the desert property and the other friendly young roaming hippies that would stay for various periods of time. I could picture waking up to a warm cup of coffee brewed by the sweet older couple in the beautiful outdoor kitchen and hearing them talking about their adventures, art projects, and drum circles they hosted over the years.
There were so many amazing people I met, places I visited, and accomplishments that I could check off my bucket list. I didn’t end up making any money, but the adventures I’ve had were worth the struggle for a while.
I’m now back where I left off before the pandemic, but now with a new host of friends and a lifetime of memories swarming inside my head. I’m not swearing off the life I’ve lived during the pandemic, but I am working on incorporating these things into a more manageable schedule. My life now may be much less chaotic, but I’ve gained lessons and a renewed way of viewing life. My mindset is a little less about obtaining material things and more about squeezing in time with people I love. I’m still working on becoming a better person, but I am aware of the change in who I am as a person.