Are you doing what you love for a living?

I announced on Friday that I just launched a new blog – Become a Freelance Writer. My goal with that blog is to teach people to become successful freelance writers, whether they wish to pursue freelancing part-time or full-time. Freelancing wasn’t what I thought I would end up doing with my life, but you really just never know where life is going to take you. Now, I can’t imagine not working from home. While I want to retire early and travel as much as possible, part of me doesn’t think I’ll ever want to completely quit freelancing because I just love it that much.

I’ve spoken with a good amount of people who would also like to live this lifestyle – set your own hours, control your workload, spend more time with your family and most importantly be doing something that you love. When I was in college, I always envisioned my life in an office (oceanside with huge windows, preferably). I majored in finance and while I only worked in that field for three years, the “reality” of my future hit me. Most likely, I would never have my own office with massive windows (and it definitely wouldn’t be overlooking the ocean). Instead, I was working in call-center environments, having to ask permission to take a break or take time off work, getting reprimanded if I wasn’t at my desk at exactly 8:00 am (and logged in, of course) and relying on yearly raises and bonuses to make more money, which didn’t always happen. I remember almost daily looking out the window and feeling like life was passing me by.

I know not all office jobs are like that, and that some people love working in an office. They love the stability of a paycheck, they love socializing with coworkers, they love having the same routine every day and knowing what to expect. I get that. I really do. But that lifestyle is just not for me.

While I do wish I could travel more spontaneously, explore foreign countries and heck even take more road trips, I haven’t once thought about “life passing me by” since working for myself. Because you know what? If I really wanted to book a one-way flight to Europe, I could. Even though I live a stable life, I think just knowing I have the option to live however I want is what makes me not feel trapped.

So, it’s safe to say I am doing what I love for a living. I get to spend my days with my girls, I’m home when my husband gets home from work, I go to parks and on walks in the middle of the afternoon and I vacation when I want. I am SO excited to grow this blog, grow my new blog and work more on my freelancing career. While life in general is no where near perfect, it’s easier for me to handle life’s other hard situations when I’m not feeling depressed or burnt out by my work like I was when I worked in an office. Freelancing is definitely challenging in it’s own ways – especially when trying to balance work and family – but it’s the only job I’ve had where I look forward to receiving work. I look forward to researching, completing assignments, gaining new clients and growing my brand.

Next, I plan on sharing some steps you need to take before you can quit your job and become a freelancer, if that’s what you want to do. Stay tuned 🙂

What is your dream job and dream life? Are you living it? 

photo credit: Flickr via Kim Seng