Struggling with excessive workload, exhaustion, and poor health led to a life-saving move overseas.
Taking the Leap: How a New Life Overseas Transformed My Health and Happiness
Hitting the big 4-0, I was burned out, overweight, and stuck in a rut. My body felt like it was betraying me, and I was drowning in stress, anxiety, and depression. My creativity was suffocating, and I couldn't find a way out.
I had given up a decade-long teaching career to become a freelance writer, but the hustle and constant pursuit of clients left me drained. I worked long hours, barely moved, and often subsisted on convenience food. The specter of an early demise, like my mother who passed away from breast cancer at 49, loomed over me.
I didn't know how to break free from this cycle, so I made a radical decision: I would move abroad.
Venturing Out: Embracing the Unknown
I sold my possessions, paid off debts, and saved enough to feel secure. With $1,750 in my pocket, I secured a one-way ticket to Thailand. I had no clear plan, but I was determined to change my life.
In Chiang Mai, I found a comfortable apartment for just $310 per month and began working with a local herb expert on my weight and emotional wellbeing. For six months, I focused solely on healing.
Thailand afforded me the opportunity to find myself. The cost of living was low, fresh fruits and vegetables were abundant, and I discovered the value of self-care. Simple rituals such as daily walks, massages, and weekly sauna sessions became my new norm. I had always thought self-care was a luxury, but Thailand taught me it could be a way of life.
Rebuilding from Within: A New Relationship with Myself
When I left Thailand, I was 27 kilograms lighter. More importantly, I felt confident, clear, and worth more. This transformation reflected in my work too. I stopped chasing low-paying freelance jobs and instead sought content marketing clients who valued my skills. I learned to build a writing business that fit my life.
Since 2018, I've moved to ten countries, including Vietnam, Rwanda, Turkey, and now Mexico. With each relocation, I've had to learn how to prioritize my health anew.
Running for Redemption: Claiming My Body Back
I eventually landed in Mérida, Mexico, where I discovered a vibrant local running culture. I signed up for a few 5K races, but I craved more. For six months, I trained for my first half marathon, which I completed in January 2025.
Crossing the finish line wasn't just about physical endurance; it was about reclaiming my body after years of neglect and exhaustion. It was a celebration of the life I'd built, one where I could finally put my health, joy, and creativity first.
Bidding Adieu to the USA: A Life-Saving Choice
Leaving the United States wasn't easy. I was fearful of not making enough money, feeling isolated, or missing home. But I was even more terrified of remaining in a life that was slowly killing me.
In the USA, I felt like I had to earn my peace, health, and happiness. Abroad, I gave myself the freedom to simply be. I could move at my own pace, eat better, and create from a place of abundance.
I still work as a freelance writer, but now I also coach other writers. I teach creative writing courses, work on a memoir about my journey from burnout to well-being, and I've built a life that I truly love. It's one that doesn't demand perfection, just presence. And it all began with a yes to something different.
What brought about this new lifestyle and rejuvenation? A daring decision to move overseas.
Upon arriving in Thailand, I found myself embracing the unknown, transitioning from a comfort zone dominated by stress and depression.
In Chiang Mai, I prioritized both my physical and emotional wellbeing, shedding 27 kilograms and regaining my self-worth.
I learned the importance of self-care, incorporating daily walks, massages, and sauna sessions into my routine.
Transitioning from Thailand, I continued my focus on health and wellness, rebuilding my life across ten countries, learning to prioritize my well-being anew with each relocation.
In Mérida, Mexico, I found solace and redemption through running, completing a half marathon and reclaiming my body after years of neglect.
The journey taught me to show appreciation for my health, joy, and creativity, and to prioritize them over the hustle and constant pursuit that once threatened my well-being.
Now, I coach other writers, teaching creative writing courses, working on a memoir about my transformation from burnout to well-being, and living a life I truly love, one that values personal growth, career development, women's health, parenting, education, and self-improvement, all underpinned by science, fitness, exercise, and mental health.
