Following a Nomad

Ordinary People Doing Extraordinary Things

in·spire: to breathe life into

To breathe life into – conjures up images of creating in epic proportions; I love the active, dynamic quality of this definition.

Gandi eloquently challenged us with the words, “you must be the change you wish to see in the world” and it seems to me that Raam Dev picked up the gauntlet with a passion. In the time that I’ve “known” him (we’ve yet to meet in person) he seems a natural at breathing life into dreams. It’ll come as no surprise then that this is what I so appreciate about him.

You may have read about how I “met” Raam when I shared his eBook, Small Ways to Make a Big Difference with you  a couple of months ago. From our first interaction I felt a connection and I began to follow him on his blog as well as Twitter.

He describes himself as,

“a writer, techie, minimalist, vegetarian, and philosopher. I live as a digital nomad and travel the world with a mission to develop sustainable abundance through living and working purposefully.“

That’s the tip of the iceberg in my opinion. I’ve spent countless hours reading the updates from his 6 month journey, enjoying the photography and most of all, expanding my thinking by reading the comments left on his blog. He has a way of encouraging engagement in a simple and welcoming way that clearly makes many people want to be part of his community.

It is with appreciation of who he is that I shine the light on him this week:

1.  Why are you here?

I’ve been asking that question since I was three. No really, you can ask my dad and he’ll tell you that when I first understood the concept of death, I stood up and asked, “then what’s the point of all this?”.

I still don’t have the answer, but I’ve come to the conclusion that since I won’t be here forever, the only thing worth doing is something that will in some way be beneficial to others after I’m gone.

That’s one the reasons why I write online — the Internet creates a resource that others will be able to find for hundreds, possibly thousands, of years. Between now and then, if I can help inspire or motivate just one person, the hundreds of thousands of words that I have written will be worth every one.

So, why am I here? I’m here to help.

2. What is your future self calling for?

My future self is calling for me to learn and grow as quickly as possible, sidestepping any fears or personal inhibitions, so that I can be an example for others to look up to. It’s asking me to think ahead and to take good care of my health so that I can continue helping others even into my old age.

My future self is asking me to raise awareness around the things that most people know are important but don’t want to talk about.

It’s asking me to be part of a world where technology is used creatively to solve global problems and where we, as a human race, have learned to live with abundance in a sustainable way instead of wasting it and destroying ourselves while swimming in ignorance.

(He answers this question in depth in these 2 insightful posts: 7 Pieces of Advice for My Younger Self and Advice for My Future Self).

3. How do you honour that calling?

By making choices that are compassionate to life and in harmony with nature, by sharing knowledge, perspective, and insight and always being willing to lend a helping hand. By being grateful for what I have and by learning to exist with less so those who need more can have it.

I wake up every day and ask myself how I can do something that will be beneficial to the Earth in some way; how I can help advance human civilization in the right direction with just one tiny step today.

4. What is both effortless and life-giving to you?

Sharing.

5. What do you do better than anyone else?

Nothing. There is always someone better.

6. What is extraordinary about your work and/or life?

I am unconventional by birth. I was born into an American family that had chosen to separate from convention. Before my parents married, they changed their birth names and made the decision to raise their family home-schooled, vegetarian, and with principals and values aligned with ancient Buddhist/Hindu teachings — all of this was new to them.

My parents are both entrepreneurs and my entire family is very do-it-yourself and hands-on (I helped my dad build parts of our house and my uncle built his house). I grew up believing that if we work hard enough and want something badly enough, anything is possible.

I was always encouraged to be curious and open-minded. My parents encouraged me to question everything, even their own teachings. My love for knowledge is endless. If you name any field of study, I’ll find interest in it. At the same time, when I’m working on something, nothing else exists; I have no problem concentrating in even the most chaotic environments.

I don’t see obstacles. I see challenges that need a solution.

7. What is guaranteed to inspire you?

The playful innocence of children and observing compassion and love shared between two human beings.

8. What will your epitaph say if you’ve lived life on your terms?

“Generalist in life. Specialist in action. Led by example, lived with purpose, and loved life. He blazed his own trail and shined his only light behind him.”

As I was writing this post earlier in the week, I wondered what it must be like for Raam as he nears the completion of such a life transforming journey. Curious?

Read his update on The Lifestyle of a Minimalist Digital Nomad.

You can also connect with him:

On RaamDev.com

On Twitter

On Facebook

For a reminder of how this series came to be, read Follow You, Follow Me.