In my first blog, I shared the reasons behind my Tour for Regeneration. In this post, I’ll discuss the places I visited, the gatherings I attended, and the lessons I learned during my nomadic tour.
Location, location, recalibration
The last eight weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. On August 30, I started my "Tour for Regeneration" after selling my home after living there for 17 years. This region, where I was born and raised, holds my family—my parents, my sister, and her family—and has always been a green, calming refuge, a place that truly felt like home. Letting go of it has been on my mind for a few years, and now, looking back, I feel grateful for every moment I spent in Arnhem.
In recent weeks, I drove over 2,000 kilometres southward to Portugal in my car (Toyota C-HR 2.0 Hybrid First Edition - I’m still not entirely sure I’m the camper van type). With over 5,000 kilometres on the road and counting, I feel the journey unfolding incredibly. On my way to Portugal, I decided to detour to meet an Urban Regenerator (thank you, JP). We had often connected online, but meeting in person was a whole new experience. Her warm hospitality, engaging discussions about the Urban Regenerators collective, and the inviting atmosphere filled me with renewed energy to keep travelling onward.
In Portugal, I was lucky to land at the home of one of my closest friends (thank you, JBvdB for our long-lasting friendship). He has lived in the Coimbra region with his wife and two sons for several years. The beauty of his land, home, and the nearby river, along with his strong work ethic, motivated me to do more than relax in the sun. His place became my base for the first five and a half weeks. During this period, I attended the Gathering of Tribes in a northern forest, flew to Helsinki for a keynote presentation and some city exploration, and made an unexpected trip back to Amsterdam due to personal circumstances. After spending some days on my friend’s land, my journey continued from there to Ananda Kalyani, Freedom Ville (thank you TD & ND)., the Arrábida Business Gathering (thank you AC.), and included stays with some very hospitable business connections (thank you NK. & VV.).
· Gathering of Tribes
The Gathering of Tribes is a unique, co-created blend of conference and festival that brings together impact-driven entrepreneurs, changemakers, activists, and community builders from diverse ecosystems. This gathering celebrates the regenerative movement, fostering meaningful connections that inspire action. I spent four nights camping at Butterfly Camp, meeting some truly inspiring people. 500 Souls came from all over the world—Thailand, Canada, Costa Rica, the UK, the Netherlands, Morocco, North Macedonia, Portugal, and more. The opening ceremony was powerful, invoking the four directions: North (teacher/ sage, energy, elders, winter, hummingbird), East (visionary, space, fire, children, spring, condor), South (healer, time, youth, earth, summer, serpent), and West (worrier, matter, parents, water, fall, Jaguar). The event was co-organized with various tribes, offering various workshops, music, and unexpected conversations. We delved into regenerative topics from many perspectives, and the session on steward ownership was particularly impactful. I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with incredible brothers and sisters like Samuel, Nicola, Audrey, Florijn, Graham, Mauricio, Stefan, Hajar, Ramona, Jean-Marc, Franka, Nika, Lauren, Eduardo, Jonathan, Mathias, Alexander, Evgenia, Rianne, João, and so many more. The next edition will be held in 2026. Feel free to reach out if you’re interested in partnering or joining.
· Ananda Kalyani
Ananda Kalyani is a lively and integrative development project and spiritually grounded community in central Portugal; we are nestled in stunning natural surroundings. They live and work to create a resilient, self-sufficient, and holistically regenerative way of life, aspiring to be a model for positive, sustainable change. I stayed in the guesthouse for a week. During my stay, I had the chance to connect with the residents, volunteers, and guests and immerse myself in the lifestyle and the rich, food-abundant surroundings. It was a meaningful experience to have uninterrupted time to dive into The Regenerative Life by Carol Sanford. I also attended a mantra (baba nam kevalam) and meditation session — my first experience of a spiritual gathering where participants created music together. Although I was initially sceptical, I left feeling deeply grateful.
· Arrábida Business Gathering
The Arrábida Business Gathering was initiated by a Portuguese entrepreneur who brought together twenty business associates from various countries and industries, all in a beautiful setting overlooking the sea. It was an unexpected gift to be invited by one of the participants, which also allowed me to meet this entrepreneur. During the monastery tour, the guide told us that the monks described the place as a paradise, yet they still practised self-punishment with whiplashes and fasted continuously. Although the meals throughout our stay were great, the participants were frequently challenged and confronted with internal and external issues through activities focused on regeneration and impact, workshops, a guided tour, a beach visit, and a breathwork session. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate, the group’s openness, care, and drive, and the energy of this planet and the beautiful location that enabled me to experience this transformative journey. The business ideas will be further developed in an “as-a-Forest” approach into a Minimal Thriving Project in the coming weeks. Feel free to reach out if you'd like more details or are interested in embarking on a tailor-made transformative business gathering.
The three events above are part of a more extensive tour, where the whole experience is greater than the sum of its parts. Although I’ve only been on this journey for eight weeks, I’m excited to share my five key insights.
Five Lessons Learned from Living a Nomadic Life
1. Staying Humble
Every place brings its unique vibe, and it usually takes me a couple of days to fully settle in, find my way, and start connecting with the surroundings and the people. Staying humble helps with this process—approaching each new setting with openness and respect, ready to learn from what it offers. Thankfully, I’m a solid sleeper—even though I often hear others struggle to sleep on their first night somewhere new. My top travel companions? Google Maps, Tripadvisor, and a healthy dose of curiosity. Adapting goes beyond picking a place to stay; it’s about getting familiar with how everything works, knowing which facilities are (and aren’t) available both at the location and nearby, learning the local customs (like stores closing from Saturday afternoon until Monday afternoon), figuring out who’s who, and so forth.
2. Prioritising Minimalism
Less is more. I have a little experience with extended travel, and while "travel light" is a famous saying, I’m still working on fully embracing it. I’ve managed to travel light on shorter business trips, but I packed far too much for my tour. Minimalism requires creativity—finding new ways to use what you have, asking for help, borrowing items when needed, and lending out your own (because sharing is caring).
3. Network and Connections Matter
In a nomadic life, genuine connections are invaluable. Connecting with my real-life network strengthens bonds that digital interactions can't replicate, deepening trust and understanding. Equally, dedicating time to meet new people is essential; each person brings fresh perspectives and opportunities for growth. When we give openly to others—sharing experiences, offering help, or simply listening—we invite the universe to respond, creating space to receive in return. These exchanges can profoundly shape our journey in ways we might never expect. Genuine, authentic connections make each step more meaningful and the journey more enriching.
4. Self-determination
Make each day purposeful and fulfilling without the structure of a fixed home or routine. On the road, I’ve learned to rely on my choices, setting intentions and creating habits that keep me grounded and motivated. Self-determination means embracing freedom while staying committed to my goals and making deliberate decisions about where to go, how to spend time, and whom to connect with. This journey has shown me that self-direction, guided by clear values and intentions, is essential to experiencing both independence and true fulfilment on the path ahead.
5. Personal Growth
At the Gathering of Tribes, a conversation with Sharon crystallised an insight: Love + Light = Life. This means cultivating a deep love — for nature, people, all species, and myself. Self-love fuels resilience, grounding me in kindness toward all. Embracing light, I stay open to learning, listening, and taking meaningful action. Life itself, then, is about presence: savouring each moment, hearing, seeing, smelling, and feeling without clinging to the past or reaching for the future. This equation guides me to "beam love" wherever I go, creating a life rooted in mindfulness and a genuine connection with the world around me.
The past weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster, filled with intense joy, moments of sadness, facing obstacles, and periods of genuine thriving. I didn’t take this leap just for a vacation or to return to my old, familiar life. I took it to realign my life’s path and to grow into an even better version of myself.
With love,
Menno Lammers
Comments