You know how people post captions like, “Quit your job, follow your passion, and carve your own path!”
I’ve tried. For 3+ years. It’s hard 😬
I’ve been traveling to Lebanon as a freelancer since I was 24. Each trip, I spend months exploring the country + diving into stories I’m passionate about. I’ve had the privilege of writing about topics like suicide amongst Syrian child brides, refugee child labor, and the epic Lebanese revolution.
But there’s a serious downside …
The pay.
Freelancers typically earn $50-350 per article. Because I focus on long-form investigations … that can = less than $1 per day 😬
For years, I convinced my family it was worth it. I was “investing in my portfolio,” which would “lead to a dream job.” But I could never get myself to apply to any. I recently realized why …
Writing in Lebanon isn’t a stepping stone. It *is* my dream job.
Reporting in my parents’ country enriches me in so many ways. It connects me to my roots, brings me closer to my culture, and gives me this unparalleled sense of pride.
But I need stability. I need a steady income (I mean … I have a wedding to pay for!) So, I recently returned to my former TV news job in Buffalo.
For weeks, I was terrified I was giving up on my dreams.
But I think I’m finally just finding balance. I’m learning true happiness cannot *solely* come from where you work. It comes from balancing every beautiful part of life! For me, that means producing for an awesome TV station, enjoying my hometown with my family, community, and soulmate (how lucky am I), and visiting/writing about Lebanon as often as I can.
Yeah, maybe it won’t be for months at a time. But the Bible says there’s a season for everything. As much as people on social media make it look like you have to go hard 365 days/year to achieve your dreams, sometimes you need a season to anchor yourself. Doesn’t make you any less of a hustler. Actually, it could give you the stability to achieve your goals while *actually* enjoying life.