These inspiring women have made flexible lifestyles work for them
In 2017 we hosted our first women’s only coworking day event. If you read our post about our Women’s Only Coworking Space Popup Event you’ll know how wonderful the event and response to it was. We hosted it in Chiang Mai, Thailand and met so many inspiring women, we decided to share some of their stories. These women show it’s possible to create lifestyles you truly love, work from anywhere and thrive at it. Read their stories below!
Meet Lola: a full-time traveler and freelance writer
Lola Méndez is a full-time traveler and freelance writer sharing her adventures on Miss Filatelista. She travels to develop her own worldview and has explored 53 countries. Passionate about sustainable travel, she seeks ethical experiences that benefit local communities.
“I left my life and career in New York City in March of 2015 and have been traveling and working remotely ever since. I decided to take off after being told I was up for a very competitive promotion and raise. When I heard the news I did not feel ecstatic. Instead, I felt doomed. I loved my role as a fashion publicist but knew there must be something more meaningful out there waiting for me in the world. I’d been working with clients that benefited various global charities and wanted to shift my lifestyle and career towards one that was more sustainable and allowed me to use my skills towards developmental projects.
I did exactly that when I worked pro bono as the communications officer for a women’s empowerment NGO in India for 3 months. I developed a relationship with Visit.org and worked on the social travel marketplace’s business development and communications efforts. Through them I began to work with charities and other do-good organizations around the world to help them create tourism activities to support their causes. I also began to work with nonprofits in the travel sector directly to help share their stories on my blog, Miss Filatelista, and other digital publications. In 2018 I focused mostly on freelance writing gigs but am always open to projects that can benefit from my branding and marketing expertise.
Without traveling I wouldn’t be able to learn firsthand the unique stories that I get to share as a freelance travel writer. I am inspired daily by cultural phenomenons, local cuisines exotic flavors, traditional handicrafts, and the incredible people I’m fortunate enough to encounter around the globe. These experiences have allowed me to continue to support my travels by being paid to write about travel-related topics. But I am a traveler first and would never travel simply to sell a story. If I lost access to the internet tomorrow I’d simply find another way to fund my explorations.”
Follow Lola’s journey on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Meet Lynn: an online English teacher and podcast host
Lynn Hulver is an online ESL teacher from the US, who also started her own podcast and hosts a podcast where she interviews women paving their own path.
“I think traveling and working from anywhere in the world seems like this weird, mystical unicorn that sounds great but isn’t actually possible long-term. The truth is anything is possible, you just have to decide what you want and learn from the people who are doing what you want to be doing.
I knew in college that Corporate America wasn’t for me, so I spent most of college researching unconventional ways of living. Then I became involved with Network Marketing, and though I realized it wasn’t for me, I’m grateful for it as it opened my eyes to the world of entrepreneurship.
Currently I’m teaching ESL online and building my e-commerce business. I’ve also launched a weekly, interview-style podcast showcasing young people who are living life on their own terms, to show others how they can do so too. I’m also a blog contributor for @bossbabe.inc, which I love. This winter I spent 3 months in Thailand, a week in the Philippines, and then moved to Bali for spring! My goal is to show people my age, anything is possible.”
Meet Brenda: a freelance health and lifestyle writer
Brenda DeGroote is originally from the Netherlands and writes books and articles on healthy and plant-based lifestyles.
“As I child, I always had the dream of traveling forever, being free and unbound to a specific place. I love to discover new places, not knowing what is literally ‘on the other side of the mountain’. As a writer and illustrator, all I need is a pen and paper, a computer and WiFi. Just like that I realized, I could make my childhood dream come true. So I booked a one way ticket to the other side of the world.
To make this lifestyle possible, I write books and articles for several websites on health, food and a plant-based lifestyle. I love creative work, and it is helps enable me to focus more on my passion projects: monkeys and art (in progress).
Many women dream of traveling and exploring new places but I’ve found that most, come up with excuses not to pursue their dreams. Excuses like, “I’ll never be able to do that.” “My boss / job won’t let me.” “I don’t know how to do it.”
My response to these is; 1) don’t think you’re a special case – lots of people have done it, and you can too, 2) if you don’t like it, then just book a ticket back, 3) Tim Ferris’ overhyped bestseller book has some great tips, and 4) write down your dreams and make a plan for how to get there.
But remember: the most important of all is to book that ticket. Otherwise your ‘yea, ever’ will become a ‘nope, never’. Don’t be afraid, that is fantasizing in the wrong direction.”
Ready to join these inspiring women in living the way you want? Fulfill your dreams of travel and live in a new city for a month using Behere. Learn more about booking with Behere and our locations here.
