HOW FREELANCING MADE MY 2020 BETTER

freelancing 2020

When I was young, I always thought that being successful meant working in an office setting; going to work religiously, wearing stylish clothes and heels, having weekdays off and sitting all day within the comfort of an air-conditioned room. I grew up, did just that and got drowned and suffocated of the routine.

Before I found online Freelancing

I graduated back in 2015 and right after taking the Psychometrician Licensure Examination, I decided to go independent and went to the big city. There, I landed my first job in the customer service world. It was fast-paced, eye-opening and very rigorous. My health suffered, my passion dwindled and my personal circle got smaller and smaller. I always told myself that I'm going to quit the BPO world but the excuses piled up. Then covid-19 happened, the world suddenly stopped. We went from office work to work from home, our salaries got deducted and our company suffered major loss so they offered us retrenchment. It was time to cut ties and to look for greener and healthier pasture.

How freelancing made my 2020

That's when I decided that I have to find a job that lets me live. No more slaving my youth and wishing for that 'someday' when things falls into place. A job where I can practice my hobbies and passion.

waves sunset

If you know me, I have a love affair with photography. I got into it in college but since I'm still a student, buying a quality camera back then was out of the question. I was finally able to buy my own DSLR when I started earning and use it on my travels. I would almost capture every scenery that I deem beautiful. Just anything under the sun. And post it on my photography page in instagram.

sunsetbali

I especially have this overt fascination with the sea so most of my captures are waves, sunsets and sunrise by the beach. Sunrise and sunsets invigorates me and I hope I can convey that through my photos. I particularly remembers this one quotation:

May every sunrise hold more promise and every sunset hold more peace.

bali beach

I would often travel locally alone and just had my first international trip last year. It was nothing short of amazing. We stayed in Bali, Indonesia for a week and it was still so short. I was ecstatic. It felt like freedom, it felt like I was finally living. The thrill of exploring another culture and tasting their cuisine gave me an awakening. I wanted to explore more and live more. I wanted to have a staycation and savour the fact that I don't have to worry about waking up early and braving the traffic to go to work. But since I had an office job, I only had a week of leave so I had to cut the travel short. That's when I realized that I don't want to get tied up to a place for a job. I wanna be able to travel, take beautiful photos and work at the same time. I don't wanna have regrets when I grow older.

So when the pandemic happened and I quit my job, I had to finally stand for myself. I enrolled in an online freelancing course, updated my upwork and linkedin profiles and finally started my virtual freelancing

nusa penida beach

journey. It's a mixed feeling of excitement and uncertainty. But then again, when will you start taking control of your life? When will ‘someday’ happen? Nothing is ever certain, so just go for it. Embrace that uncertainty, the fear and nurture it. We will get there.

Cheers to more travel diaries once the covid-19 ends.