My Other Life in London: The Version of Me I Found Overseas

There’s a version of me that exists in London that feels softer, calmer, and more present. Every time I return, it feels less like I’m visiting another country and more like I’m stepping back into a version of myself that I almost lost somewhere along the way. People often ask why I spend so much time abroad, and honestly, the answer has become much deeper than travel. What started as an opportunity to explore the world slowly became part of my healing journey after unexpectedly losing my Dad in November of 2022. Grief changed everything for me. It shifted how I viewed life, success, relationships, rest, and even myself.


At first, I told myself I just needed a break. A change of scenery. A reset from the constant noise of everyday life in America. But somewhere between my long walks through London neighborhoods, quiet mornings at cafés, solo dinners, and wandering through bookstores with no real destination, I realized something bigger was happening. I was slowly finding pieces of myself again. Back home, life often feels like survival mode. Entrepreneurship, social media, deadlines, bills, expectations, partnerships, and constantly trying to stay afloat can become emotionally exhausting. Add grief on top of that, and there were moments I truly felt like I was drowning internally while still trying to show up for everyone else externally.


London gave me space to breathe. There’s something about waking up and taking a slow walk through Notting Hill, sitting quietly in Hyde Park with coffee and my thoughts, or hopping on the Tube with nowhere urgent to be that reminded me life is supposed to be experienced, not just survived. My lifestyle there became much slower and more intentional. I would spend mornings journaling, afternoons walking through museums or neighborhoods, and evenings enjoying solo dinners or meeting new people. For once, I wasn’t constantly rushing. I wasn’t glued to my phone every second. I wasn’t solely focused on productivity. I was simply existing.


I didn’t realize how much I needed that. Living abroad also showed me how deeply our environments impact our wellness. In America, especially as an entrepreneur, I think many of us are conditioned to believe rest has to be earned. We glorify burnout, overworking, and constantly being busy. But overseas, particularly in London, I noticed people embracing life differently. There’s more walking, more balance, more enjoyment of simple moments, and more presence. That shifted something in me.


Over the last few years, I’ve had the opportunity to spend extended time abroad through hotel and tourism partnerships, living between places like London, Toronto, and Montreal. While those opportunities have looked glamorous online, what people don’t always see is how much those experiences helped me emotionally. There were days in London where grief still hit me hard. I remember walking through the city and suddenly wishing I could call my Dad just to tell him what I saw that day. There were moments I cried quietly in my hotel room questioning my purpose, my career, and who I was becoming after such a painful loss. But there were also moments where I genuinely felt joy return to my body again.
That mattered more than anything.
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Travel didn’t erase my pain, but it reminded me that life could still feel beautiful even after heartbreak. It reminded me that I was allowed to rest, to evolve, and to rebuild myself differently. Somewhere along the way, London became more than a destination for me. It became a safe space where I could grieve, heal, reflect, and reconnect with myself without pressure. I think that’s why this city will always hold such a special place in my heart. It gave me room to become softer instead of just stronger. It taught me that healing doesn’t always happen loudly. Sometimes it happens quietly, during long walks, peaceful mornings, unfamiliar streets, and moments where you finally feel your nervous system exhale.
And maybe that’s the biggest lesson London gave me: life is not only about surviving difficult seasons. It’s also about allowing yourself to still experience joy, beauty, rest, and possibility while healing through them.