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Welcome to the Intentional Nomad Blog
I’m Sarah, a multicultural polyglot who has wandered through 50 countries and called 10 of them home. But my journey as a nomad has always been about more than just collecting stamps in my passport — it’s been a deep exploration of identity, purpose, and the art of living fully across borders.
With every move, every new culture, and every challenge, I’ve learned to embrace both the beauty and the complexity of a life without boundaries. Through these experiences, my hope is to help fellow nomads like you perhaps, find their own unique path and unlock their full potential in this vast, ever-changing world.
This blog is personal, intimate, and real. I don’t just talk about travel; I dive into what it means to live authentically in a world that constantly shifts. Whether you’re navigating the highs and lows of expat life or simply searching for where you belong, this space offers both practical guidance and raw, heartfelt reflections.
I pour my soul into every word. Here, you’ll find travel notes, press features, deeply personal essays, creative fiction, and my musings on what it means to live a life of purpose. Some of it is raw and unfiltered because the journey of self-discovery is rarely easy — but it’s always worth it.
So if you're ready to explore the world, discover yourself, and reignite your passion, welcome. This is more than a blog — it’s my home. A home for those of us who live life beyond borders. Let’s walk this path together.
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The Nomad Loop: When Movement Becomes Identity
Finding yourself beyond the cycle of leaving
Sarah J.D.
Apr 114 min read
Rootless and Resilient: The Double-Edged Life of a Modern Nomad
“You will never be completely at home again, because part of your heart will always be elsewhere. That is the price you pay for the richness of knowing and loving people in more than one place.” — Miriam Adeney For most people, home is a single dot on the map — a place where roots grow deep and life unfolds within familiar borders. For me, home has been a moving target. My life as a nomad has been a long, winding journey through countless countries, cultures, and identities.
Sarah J.D.
Aug 9, 20253 min read
Navigating the Emotional Rollercoaster of Relocating to Paris
“Paris is not a city, it’s a world unfolding itself. Every street, every corner whispers history, beauty, and inspiration.” - Unknown I'm sitting at a Parisian café terrace, situated right in the courtyard of late Victor Hugo's house at Place des Vosges as I am writing now. It's green with trees and vegetation, there's a lovely water fountain, it's sunny, hot, and I hear all different kinds of languages coming from the other tables around me. I'm sipping on a fresh "citronnad
Sarah J.D.
Feb 27, 20253 min read
Making Peace with Letting Go: Navigating the Divide Between Worlds
“Sometimes the hardest part isn’t letting go but rather learning to start over.” — Nicole Sobon This morning, I woke with the lingering echo of a vivid dream, one that stirred feelings I’m still grappling with. I stood at the entrance to a place I later recognised as the Giant Rock City near the Czech-Polish border, a place where towering rock formations dominate the landscape. I'm facing the outside world, my back turned to the immense rocky tunnels. Unsure of whether I am a
Sarah J.D.
Oct 5, 20242 min read
How to Navigate Relocation Burnout: Tips and Strategies for Success
« Many of us have been running all our lives. Practice stopping. » - Thich Nhat Hanh Relocating to a new city or country is often seen as an exciting adventure — a fresh start full of opportunities and the promise of personal and professional growth. However, the reality of moving is often far more complex. Amid the thrill of new beginnings, many individuals experience a phenomenon known as relocation burnout. This form of burnout can manifest emotionally, mentally, and phys
Sarah J.D.
Oct 1, 20246 min read
What No One Tells You About Excessive Traveling
"Depending on whom you ask, there could be such a thing as too much travel." - Eliot Stein I’m standing in the departures hall of Milan airport, staring up at the flight schedule. For a few seconds, I have to focus — hard — to remember where I am and which city I’m heading to. I just can’t remember if my home town is Paris, Bucharest, or Punta Cana. It’s disorienting, like a brief mental fog. It’s the same feeling I get some mornings when I wake up and have to piece together
Sarah J.D.
May 14, 20243 min read
Understanding the Distinction Between a Coach and a Therapist
“If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you.”- Fred DeVito In the realm of personal development and mental health, two professions often intersect but serve distinct purposes: coaching and therapy. While both aim to facilitate growth and improvement in individuals' lives, they employ different approaches, methodologies, and objectives. Understanding the disparity between a coach and a therapist is essential for individuals seeking guidance and support tailored to their
Sarah J.D.
Apr 4, 20243 min read
Ayahuasca: My Most Profound Inner Experience
''Ayahuasca helps to see inside of yourself and outside of yourself at the same time.'' - Rima Danielle Jomaa Six weeks ago, while on holiday in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, I reached out to an expat couple who run a plant medicine retreat that had captured my attention on Instagram. Since watching Dr. Gabor Maté's Netflix documentary on psychedelics and plant medicines, I knew this was a journey I wanted to embark on. I hoped it might be the key to easing or even curing
Sarah J.D.
Oct 5, 20237 min read
Are New Year Resolutions Overrated?
"New Year. New Me. Same Dreams. Fresh Start." Every beginning of a new year brings hope and the desire to better oneself. If 2020 was one of the most challenging years in my life, I am very grateful 2021 brought me change, refuge, family, and peace of mind. 2022 was a reinforcement of my commitment to family, stability and balance. And I'm hoping 2023 will go down the same path with a little more balance and work fulfillment. My birthday is in December so I usually end the ye
Sarah J.D.
Jan 5, 20235 min read
Intermittent Fasting: Developing Self-Control and Willpower
"I fast for greater physical and mental efficiency." - Plato Ever since I've moved to the wonderful area of Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and reconnected with my island, my mind is more at peace and I'm finally learning to put myself first. Not only have I managed to relocate across continents, I have also set up a new home for my little family, bought a car, got my eldest son into preschool, and even started entrepreneuring again. Above everything else though, I've re
Sarah J.D.
Oct 15, 20219 min read
Moving from Romania to the Dominican Republic: My Reasons Why
"A deep sense of love and belonging is an irreducible need of all people. We are biologically, cognitively, physically, and spiritually wired to love, to be loved, and to belong. When those needs are not met, we don't function as we were meant to. We break. We fall apart. We numb. We ache. We hurt others. We get sick." - Brené Brown There’s a whole chapter from 2020 that I’ve yet to write about – and I hope to share it soon. The most impactful parts of that year include livin
Sarah J.D.
Apr 15, 20215 min read
Ce Am Învăţat Din 7 Luni De Somaj
(Featured Guest Post For My Romanian Readers) "The hardest work in the world, is being out of work."- Whitney M. Young Am învăţat că eu sunt eu indiferent cu ce mă ocup, nu munca mă defineşte. Sigur, munca este un aspect important al vieţii şi ne ocupă mult timp, ne aduce satisfacţii şi frustrări. Dar câţi oameni se simt pierduţi când nu ştiu ce să răspundă la întrebarea „cu ce te ocupi?”…de parcă ar fi goi, dezveliţi de orice valoare. Oare când am început noi, ca societate,
Sarah J.D.
Nov 15, 20203 min read
How Covid-19 Has Affected My Life
“This pandemic has magnified every existing inequality in our society – like systemic racism, gender inequality, and poverty.” - Melinda Gates In mid-March 2020, I found myself glued to the television screen as the French President announced that his country would enter a complete lockdown. Meanwhile, in the UK, where I currently live, the Prime Minister seemed to be delivering the exact opposite message—encouraging the population to embrace herd immunity, suggesting that we
Sarah J.D.
Aug 15, 20204 min read
Discovering YOU: Unveiling Your True Self
“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment.” —Ralph Waldo Emerson It’s more common than you think. Many individuals go through life without ever realising who they really are, living an illusion of purpose and fulfilment. Few are lucky enough to eventually become aware of their true self and passions. As a late-bloomer myself, I can now say that I wish I had discovered my “false-self” earlier in life. Knowing
Sarah J.D.
Jun 15, 20204 min read
Becoming Me
"The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” - Coco Chanel It’s taken me 37 years to get here. Not to a perfect life, but to a place where I finally feel like I’m walking toward my authentic self. I’ve learned that many people go through life without truly knowing who they are — and I refuse to be one of them. This hasn’t been an easy journey. It’s been layered with pain, loss, reinvention, and self-discovery. But today, I’m sharing my truth without fear,
Sarah J.D.
Jun 1, 20203 min read
My Dilemma with Finding A Home Country
"Where liberty dwells, there is my country." - Benjamin Franklin Ever since my husband and I got married, I’ve always had the idea that we’d eventually choose a place to settle down for good. We first met in the Dominican Republic, and two years later, after yet another relocation for work, we were saying I do in Haiti, my birth country. From the start, we both knew Haiti wasn’t going to be Home for us. The unstable political climate and constant insecurity were too overwhelm
Sarah J.D.
Apr 15, 20205 min read
My Last Day Of Psychotherapy
"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure." - Marianne Williamson The last day of therapy often marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. For me, it was the culmination of years of struggle, growth, and revelation. Like many people, I had sought psychotherapy intermittently over the years, but with my nomadic lifestyle, consistency was hard to come by. Moving around and traveling frequently made it challenging to maintain long-term therapy. How
Sarah J.D.
Nov 1, 20194 min read
Embracing Multipotentiality: Finding My Path Through Endless Curiosity
“Any man who bears the ability of a polymath shall not be interfered by specialty, he needs discipline to manage his behaviors and nurture his creativity.” - Shawn Lukas For as long as I can remember, I've been a multipotentialite — someone whose interests span many fields, thriving on intellectual and creative curiosity. But for years, I believed there was something wrong with me because I couldn't stick to just one passion, like many people around me. The moment I mastered
Sarah J.D.
Sep 15, 20192 min read
Motherhood’s Uncharted Waters: 10 Lessons I Wish I’d Known
“Motherhood is the biggest gamble in the world. It is the glorious life force. It’s huge and scary – it’s an act of infinite optimism.” — Gilda Radner There’s an old saying that goes: Children aren’t born with a manual. And honestly, nothing could be truer. Like many first-time mothers, I embarked on my journey into motherhood with no clue what to expect. My approach was guided mostly by instinct, fueled by a fierce desire to protect my child and navigate this new role on my
Sarah J.D.
Sep 1, 20195 min read
From Struggle to Strength: My Holistic Weight Loss Journey
"If you listen to your body when it whispers, you won’t have to hear it scream." For years, I struggled with weight loss, facing challenges like lack of motivation, inconsistency, and regaining lost weight. Between aging, pregnancies, and countless diets, I learned one important thing: a holistic approach is the only way forward, focusing on both mind and body. Everyone’s journey is unique, and finding what works for you is key. Here are the essential steps that helped me: 1.
Sarah J.D.
Aug 15, 20192 min read
“The more you read, the more things you will know. The more you learn, the more places you'll go.” — Dr. Seuss
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