This is a Long Way Home Chronicles Voicenote podcast with my friend Iris Kattar, who is half Dutch and half Lebanese, is a full-time digital nomad, language teacher, and world traveler. Have a listen to the episode (above), or Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. After you listen to the episode, think about this question:
🚩Question for you:
🎧 While listening you'll hear us reflect on whether others notice our growth when we return home from traveling. Have the people in your life noticed changes in you after a big trip or life experience like living abroad? If so, what did they notice?
“You can't just parachute yourself into a moment—whether it's a job, a relationship, or something else. The real growth happens when you commit to the long way.” —Iris Kattar
TLDL: Too Long Didn’t Listen
There’s something special about taking the long way home—whether that’s in travel, relationships, careers, or life in general. In this latest Voice Note episode, we sit down with my friend Iris Kattar, a full-time digital nomad, language teacher, and world traveler, to unpack what it means to embrace detours, welcome the unexpected, and redefine what home really means. Iris is half-Dutch, half-Lebanese and was raised in Paris. We met at a Yes Theory meetup in 2023 and quickly became friends.
5 Key Takeaways:
Growth Happens on the Long Road – The best things in life don’t come from shortcuts. The detours and challenges are what truly shape us.
The Magic is in the Detours – Some of the most unexpected conversations and experiences lead to the best opportunities. Staying open is key.
Home is a Feeling, Not Just a Place – Home isn’t always where we’re from—it’s where we feel connected, at peace, and free to be ourselves. It’s often an emotion, a person, or a feeling.
Luck vs Heart Work – What looks like luck is often the result of putting ourselves out there, trusting the process, and staying ready for the right moment.
We Change, But Do Others Notice? – Returning home after a big trip or life shift can feel strange—sometimes we’ve changed, but those around us still see the old version of us.
🪂 Why Is The Long Way Worth It?
We often want shortcuts. We want to parachute into the perfect job, the ideal relationship, or the dream destination. But Iris and I reflected on how taking the longer, sometimes more uncertain road, leads to deeper growth and more meaningful experiences.
⚠️Take the Detour, Talk to Strangers
One of my favorite parts of our conversation was about the magic that happens when we open ourselves up to the world. A chance conversation in a coffee shop led Iris to a job opportunity a year later. A random chat in a Parisian café helped me find an incredible apartment. These moments don’t happen if we rush through life with blinders on.
🏡What is Home, Really?
Iris and I both come from multicultural backgrounds, and we’ve wrestled with the question of home. Is it a place? A feeling? The people we love? For both of us, home has been less about geography and more about connection. Maybe home isn’t static. Maybe it’s something we build, moment by moment, as we navigate the long way home.
🛣️Embracing the Journey
This episode is a reminder to commit to the path, even when it feels uncertain. The long way home can be scary, but it’s also where the magic happens. We don’t know who will help us along the way, what unexpected doors will open, or how we’ll grow into the people we’re meant to be. And that’s the beauty of it.
So, the next time you have the choice—shortcut or detour—consider taking the long way home. You never know what (or who) you might find along the way.
Want to connect with Iris? Leave a comment on this post and she will see it! You can also visit www.frenchwithiris.com
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