Don’t let people tell you "You can’t be a nomad"

I want to address something I've noticed lately that bothers me sometimes as a nomad. I'm talking about that weird gatekeeping that sometimes happens in our community.

During my travels, I've seen some digital nomads look down on those who are just starting this journey. It's like there's this unwritten seniority system, where if you haven't been country-hopping and laptop-hustling for years, you're not a "true nomad".

Here are some thoughts on this:

If you're actively carving out a location-independent lifestyle, if you're chasing that freedom and flexibility, then you're a digital nomad. It doesn't matter if you've been at it for a month or a decade.

Sure, becoming a digital nomad is tough. It takes guts, resourcefulness, and a whole lot of figuring things out as you go. And yeah, maybe some nomads have been around the block longer (which is super impressive by the way!).

But there's no guidebook, no membership card, no initiation ritual. You define yourself as a nomad because that’s YOUR path.

Instead of focusing on who's more "legit", I think it could be more constructive to help each other out and share our stories and failures instead.

Newcomers, your energy and fresh perspectives revitalize this whole community. Seasoned nomads, your knowledge and hard-won lessons are a guiding light for those starting out.

So, let's build a community where we all learn, grow, and support each other on this incredible journey.

There is already enough hate for us (yes, I'm talking about the gazillion "The dark side of digital nomads" clickbait articles and videos out there), so let's be kind to each other.

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Written by Luca Mussari

Digital nomad and co-founder of Freaking Nomads. After leaving a corporate job in London, I co-created Freaking Nomads to inspire others to embrace remote work and find happiness wherever they go.

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