By Devin Johnson
If someone told me a few years ago that I’d trade my hustle and bustle lifestyle for slow mornings and sunrises over the coastlines of some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, I’d have laughed and kept editing videos until my eyes burned. But life has a funny way of teaching you that sometimes the most subtle decisions such as booking a vacation to Thailand, can be disguised as a complete transition.
I remember the day I booked the ticket to come to Thailand. I had been working overtime for three months straight and needed a break, badly. I’d been producing for my film production company, juggling freelance gigs, and working part-time jobs while carrying the quiet but heavy weight of wanting more. More meaning, more peace and a deeper connection to purpose. At the time my definition of success was tied to the film projects I could complete, the revenue I could generate, the people I could impress, and the version of myself I thought I had to be to “make it” in my city. Not understanding that this was pulling me further away from my true desire: a peace of mind.
Thailand was supposed to be a reset button, just a month of beaches, food discovery, and a few excursions. But what started as an escape turned into a mirror. The first morning I woke up to the sound of nature, animals, and the smell of street food flowing through my open window, I realized I’d stumbled into a rhythm: slowness.
The thing about Thailand is that it invites you to sit with yourself, exhale, and embrace the moment. I found moments of quiet surrounded by the mountains in Chiang Mai, reflections while journaling on the beach, and a new version of community in unexpected friendships. While on a boat tour in Bangkok, I was taught a phrase by the locals, “sabai sabai”, which simply means “take it easy.” It didn’t take long for that to resonate with me.
After one month, close to the time of my return, I realized I couldn’t just pack up and leave this feeling behind. So I decided to extend my stay and that decision changed everything. With a new found abundance of peace and clarity I reinvented my business. I started telling new stories, documenting a youth basketball team in Phuket, and interviewing professional athletes and educators. This led me to co-producing a documentary about life abroad as a BIPOC creative and hidden communities of people building purpose-driven lives far from where they grew up.
And then the real shift came: teaching. Although my mom has been an educator for 30 years, I personally never thought I’d step into a classroom as a teacher. But the universe has jokes. One day, I found myself standing in front of the entire student body introducing myself as Mr. Devin Johnson from Washington, D.C. And the reaction was epic. Loud shouts and a huge round of applause made me feel welcomed. That confirmed this is where I should be right now. Suddenly, I wasn’t just the guy behind the camera anymore. I became a mentor, a role model, and the bridge between two worlds. The best part? The students teach me as much as I teach them.
Moving to Thailand didn’t just change my address, it changed my why. It forced me into discovery and to understand what success looks like. It taught me to be still, to listen more deeply, to live more gently, and to serve with an open heart. My days are now filled with a mix of creativity, community, playfulness, and curiosity. Some mornings I am studying the Thai language; other days, I’m guiding students through lessons about seeing the world through new eyes.
Why Thailand? Because here, I remembered what it feels like to be fully alive. Especially during Songkran, hahaha. I wake up excited to live, learn, and create.
So if you’re reading this with the desire for something more, consider this your sign. Maybe your “vacation” is waiting to become your calling too. All you need is the courage to listen when the world whispers.
