Hi!
While reflecting on Thanksgiving (a holiday I don't fully embrace), I'm thinking about how my gratitude has changed and evolved since I became a freelancer and coach, living abroad and traveling.
Gratitude is no longer a feeling during a holiday (I've been working on this for years); it's become a daily feeling shaped by the freedom and flexibility of earning remotely, which mainly enables me to experience new cultures and people.
The paycheck and insurance kept me going until I couldn't. Good, bad, right, or wrong, I needed to find a new way for my mental and physical health.
*NOTE—I always worked hard to fit in, do the right thing, and please a boss or a team, even when doing so made me go against my morals or ethics and crushed my spirit. You may know what I mean. ❤️
For me and other freelancers, freelancing is more than earning an income. It's been about experiencing new possibilities of what earning can look like, choosing a life that aligns with a sense of adventure while allowing us to continue earning, using skills already embodied, staying engaged and purposeful, and having the courage to take our skills beyond borders—real or imagined.
Today, I want to share a few ways my journey (so far) has shaped my gratitude and how you can use it to fuel your own.
1. Gratitude for the Freedom to Choose
Freelancing has opened doors I didn't even know existed. The freedom to choose when, where, and how I earn has allowed me to explore new cultures and places.
Whether working from home in Costa Rica or visiting our son(s) and their families in Europe, I am reminded of how free I am to create a life of my design, even when it's difficult or surprising.
Take a moment today to reflect on your choices and the freedom they've given you—no matter how big or small.
2. Gratitude for the Challenges
Living abroad and earning remotely isn't always easy. Time zones, cultural differences, and the unpredictable nature of freelancing can feel overwhelming at times. 😥
But every challenge has taught me something or reminded me of something valuable—that I am capable, resilient, and adaptable and that it matters to stay open to new experiences. I have gotten my life from the learning I've been doing for the last three years.
Gratitude, especially during challenging times, has been my ballast. Purposely feeling gratitude shifts the focus from what's going wrong to what I'm learning and how I'm growing. It takes strength of character and resolve to commit to this learning.
As you navigate your path—whether freelancing, traveling, or transitioning to something new—consider how your challenges have shaped you and what you're grateful for because of them.
3. Gratitude for Community
One of the joys of freelancing and traveling is meeting people who inspire, teach, and support me. From fellow freelancers sharing tips over Zoom to locals welcoming me into their communities, I'm reminded that the world is full of connections waiting to happen.
Before moving abroad, I didn't know how people live, from their vocations to daily practices. I thought I did, but I didn't. The world has a funny way of humbling you to your core.
Freelancing or digital nomad'ing takes you out of a corporate or daily business environment. It enables you to meet, talk with, and work with individuals on different paths who live their lives on their terms, doing it differently than you do and not fitting into the prescribed view of how one "should" live their life.
*NOTE —I'll join a group of twelve friends at our local eatery, The Shack, for a fabulous meal this Thursday. We'll be sitting at a table with many other tables filled with people from our community, all coming together from different countries, different walks of life, different situations, different ages, different ethnicities, and more. It makes me feel like I'm part of the world, part of something much bigger than me (cue gratitude 😊).
If you've been considering freelancing to travel, move abroad, set up a safety net, stay engaged, or be purposeful, you're never alone. The freelance community is vast and welcoming, and there's always someone willing to share advice, collaborate, or cheer you on.
4. Gratitude for Possibility
This lifestyle has taught me that gratitude and possibility go hand in hand. When you're grateful for what you have, you see opportunities instead of limitations.
Possibility becomes a constant companion whether it's a new skill, a client project, or the chance to explore a new country.
This Thanksgiving, consider the possibilities that excite you. Maybe you're interested in freelancing, traveling, or simply exploring the flexibility of earning remotely. Whatever it is, gratitude can light the path forward.
Your Gratitude Practice
As we approach Thanksgiving, I encourage you to embrace gratitude as more than a moment but a mindset.
Whether freelancing, traveling, or dreaming of a new chapter, gratitude can ground you and remind you of the abundance in your life—even in times of uncertainty.
Take a moment every day to write down three things you're grateful for. They don't have to be grand—sometimes, the smallest joys hold the most meaning.
*NOTE—As I write this, I am grateful for:
My good health
The support of friends and family
The anticipation of what is next.
Gratitude has a way of turning what we have into enough, and from there, everything feels possible.
Happy Thanksgiving from wherever I am (physically and spiritually) to wherever you are.
May your journey be filled with good health, freedom, connection, joy, and gratitude.
With love and encouragement,
Jeanne ✌🏻💙🐩🐩
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