Kerri BridgmanReimagining What Was Lost: My Journey Into Digital Nomadism, Health, and a New Kind of Grounding
I didn’t become a digital nomad because I wanted to “escape” or live some fantasy of working from a beach with a coconut in hand. (Though I have been saying this for 10+ years…)
I became one because I didn’t know what else to do.
My routines weren’t working. My body was breaking down in ways I couldn’t ignore anymore (for the second time). I was exhausted. I wasn’t holding onto weight no matter what I ate. I didn’t feel like myself. And maybe most painfully, I didn’t know who “myself” even was anymore.
So I packed a suitcase, then unpacked a lot more: expectations, control, perfectionism and tried something different.
Now, six months in, I’m still figuring it out. I’m still learning what this life actually is beyond the Instagram highlight reel. But with every new city, every local market, every language barrier and new matcha latte that feels like home, I’ve found something I didn’t know was missing.
Packing Light (Because I Had To - But I Still Overpacked)
I left with one large suitcase, a backpack and a carry-on. I thought I was downsizing. Now, I realize how much I still did not need. Each city lends a place to leave clothes, shoes and cosmetics behind.
The less I carried, the more I noticed what was weighing me down emotionally. Living out of a suitcase isn’t always romantic, it’s repetitive, it’s clunky, it’s heavy, but it’s taught me to stop waiting for the “perfect moment” or perfect setup. Life keeps happening. And I’m finally learning to live it.
The Weight I Was Missing
One of the most rewarding parts of this experience has been healing my body.
Not through some grand routine, but through nervous system repair - slow mornings, sunshine on the balcony, long walks by myself blasting music, food that actually sounded good, moments of peace, DJ sets on the beach.
For me, that looked like finally gaining weight after months of not being able to hold onto it. Not because I found the “perfect” routine or health hack, but because my nervous system was finally getting a chance to settle. I finally released the “need to be perfect” after a cruise with 250+ nomads, thank you Nomad Cruise (plus Greek food has helped a lot).
It’s not a straight line. But it’s a powerful thing to feel yourself coming back to life, one layer at a time. Finding safety in a body that has never known what it’s like to “relax”.
Finding ‘Home’ in Strangers’ Cities
My “home” the last 3 years has floated between a small town on the Jersey Shore and South Florida, but I’ve found small versions of home throughout Mexico, Bali and Europe.
A yoga shala in Ubud. A morning walk in Paris. A conversation with an Uber driver in Athens. Friends at co-working spaces in Tulum. These tiny threads are what keep me grounded, even when everything else is constantly moving or feels like it’s falling apart.
Each city adds another woven piece to the story. It’s not stability in the traditional sense, but it’s something I trust now. It’s something I’m learning to build my life around.
Work, But Different
I made the decision to walk away from corporate fashion when I accepted how sick it was making me. With my background in production & operations, I didn’t know what work would look like on the road.
But somehow, this lifestyle led me right to the kind of work I’ve always wanted: connecting with small, intentional manufacturers. Meeting family-run studios that value quality, not mass production. Creating things with purpose, not pressure. It’s reminded me that slow, sustainable, intentional work still exists. And maybe that’s what I needed to believe in again.
I’ve helped visionaries and designers find their peace in knowing the processes I’ve set up work for them long term. Not always in the fashion industry because sometimes the most fun thing is to learn about a new industry, like construction and MMA fighting, but the same principles apply.
Returning, But Not Retreating
As much as I’ve “run away” these past few months, I know I’m not escaping anything - I’m exploring.
And in a few weeks, I’ll be returning to the U.S. to focus on some health stuff I’ve been putting off. Not because I want to pause this life, but because I want to keep living it. Fully. In a body that can support it for years to come.
But if you’ve been feeling ungrounded—physically, emotionally, professionally—know that trying something new, even if it’s scary, might be the thing that brings you back to yourself.
This life hasn’t been easy or glamorous. It’s been messy, unpredictable, and uncomfortable at times. But it’s also helped me feel alive again.
And that feels like something worth sharing.