I get strange looks from people about my decision to become a freelance writer. Many people can’t imagine working for themselves or even setting their own schedule. They know the daily grind, and they are content living the daily grind. Let me say that I am not criticizing this decision because I used to live it every day. Work was life until I clocked out, and I just carried all my life with me to work. Unfortunately, I carried my work home to my life. Do you begin to see the problem here? By bringing work stress home (and life stress to work), I made myself and everyone around me miserable.
It simply had to change. I couldn’t keep hauling things around with no opportunity to put them down. This makes perfect sense to me now that I’m not hauling stress to a job and asking permission of a supervisor to take care of my family life. I had to draw a line in the sand somewhere.
So what happens when you meet people who don’t (or won’t) understand this idea? It might be a manager who just thinks that how it’s supposed to be. It might be a friend who disagrees with your plan. It might be a family member who is the ‘daily grind’ type. It might even be the kind of person who has checked out on any responsibilities to family. Trying to explain the decision to become a freelancer can be like speaking a second language. If the other person speaks that language, they’re going to understand. If the other person speaks the second language but doesn’t like what you are saying, they will understand but disagree. If the other person doesn’t speak the language at all, they might think you’re lost, but they can’t figure out how to help you.
Explaining to some people why you are leaving the daily grind in the past will be like that. It will be exhilarating, frustrating, funny, and confusing all at the same time. Don’t get discouraged. You are responsible for your decisions not what other people think of them. I chose to leave behind the daily grind for personal reasons, and some people won’t agree with me even if there are good reasons. Sometimes, I get tired of trying to explain to people, but I just shrug my shoulders and carry on.
Life happens, and I’ve decided to deal with it in the way that works best for me and my family. It will take a lot of work on my part, but I’m okay with hard work toward a good goal. I’m more comfortable with that than I am with working toward a goal someone else gives me. Plus, I’m exactly where I need to be when my family needs me. Family is my focus, and I refuse to let work interfere with that anymore. That’s why I’m here trying something completely new and challenging.
If you’re stepping out into a freelancing career, I’m not an expert on it, but I can understand all the emotions you might be experiencing right now. Don’t let the hesitation of other people get you down. Sometimes what I like the most about what I’m trying is that it is unexpected to other people. For once in my life, I feel like I’m not being jammed down into someone else’s box of their making for me, and I’m finally not having to tell a supervisor that I’m taking the day off to be with family. Whatever your reasons are, don’t feel the need to explain yourself to every person until they understand because there is a good chance that they won’t. Carry on. You can’t get inside someone else’s head to help them make sense of it.
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Inspirational Verses for the Day:
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3:5-6, CSB)
All Things Subject to Change 