How One Optometrist Found Clarity in a Remote Monastery

Training dogs in a rural monastery in upstate New York was definitely not on the bingo card for my friend and colleague, Dr. Noubar.

But that's exactly where he ended up.

At a point of intense work and life stressors, Noubar needed something different. Not a vacation, but a real distance from the autopilot mode he was stuck in. He was searching online when he came across a rural monastery in New York.

The monastery wasn’t a polished retreat. It was a working monastery that opened its doors to visitors, offering meals and accommodation for free. In return, guests contributed to the day-to-day tasks.

Noubar found himself becoming part of that rhythm. He helped the nuns with gardening, cleaned the dishes, and picked up groceries. He also learned that this monastery sustained itself through dog training, something they were well known for through reputation and published textbooks.

Monks were generous with their knowledge, and soon, Noubar spent much of his time assisting with training dogs.

Outside of that, life was quiet in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve experienced it. He played guitar. He hiked across the 500 acres of land. He attended prayer services. The days were simple, repetitive, and grounding.

What stayed with him most wasn’t any single activity, but the environment itself—the way everything slowed down enough for him to actually think.

He said it gave him the space to reflect in the right environment with the right people.

Everyone at the monastery - monks, nuns, and visitors, had amazing life stories and insights to share. He made genuine connections with the people there. After this transformative experience, Noubar returns to this monastery every year.

“It’s one of the most important things I’ve ever done,” he told me. “It changed the way I think and view life.”

The real insight isn't about dramatic life experiences.

There’s a temptation to see this as a story about monasteries or dramatic life changes. But the deeper lesson is much more accessible.

You don’t need to travel far.

You don't need months off work.

What matters is putting yourself in a new setting to spur new ideas, clarity, and reflection.

Intentionally step outside the environment that keeps you stuck in the same thought patterns.

It can be as simple as enjoying an afternoon at a new café, exploring a new library, or hiking a trail you've never walked before.

And like Noubar learned, the clarity ​you need can be found in places you'd never expect.