Goodbye vacation and sick time. Goodbye free massages, computers, and meals. Goodbye quiet office to myself and uninterrupted hours to get my work done. Goodbye friends and coworkers, hallway conversations, funny emails. Goodbye stability.

Goodbye soul-sucking commute. Goodbye not seeing my kids for eight hours a day. Goodbye unrewarding paychecks, not giving a shit, and giving too much of a shit. Goodbye job that stopped being right for me a few years ago, and started being actively wrong for me six months ago.

Yesterday I said goodbye to Workplace. Today I am officially a self-employed freelance writer who works from home.

Hello to dreams coming true.

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scantee
scantee
13 years ago

Congrats! You are brave and I am totally jealous.

Tamara
13 years ago

Congratulations, lady! Freelancing is hard, but the rewards are worth it!

Erica
Erica
13 years ago

OMG! Freakin’ fanstatic! May your dreams come true!!!

Lori
Lori
13 years ago

Wow, I kind of teared up a bit (reading this sitting in my “not really right for me”/soul sucking job). That’s weird right? I mean I don’t know you, but I feel really proud of/for you.

Your bravery is inspiring, again.

maggie
13 years ago

Congrats to you for setting a goal and making it come true! Good luck in your new endeavor.

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
13 years ago

You inspire me!

Amy Q
13 years ago

SO happy for you!!! that is just fantastic news! Best of luck!!

Marci
Marci
13 years ago

I’ll add to the chorus & say: good for you!!

Emily
Emily
13 years ago

Awesome!!

jonniker
13 years ago

I do this! And it is worth it, to me. Way worth it. I only do part-time, so I don’t know how it will be full-time with kids — I haven’t done full time since before Sam was born.

The hardest part for me is shutting down at the end of it all. Like, there are NO work boundaries at all, so sometimes I’m getting stuff done when Sam could really use my attention, and sometimes I skip out on sleep.

And sometimes I have no work at all, so I’m feeling like a total waste. But it all evens out, and for me, it was worth it.

I’m sure it will be for you, too. Congratulations!

Kathryn (katiemagics)
13 years ago

Holy shit woman, rock on!

Mary
Mary
13 years ago

Delurking to say congrats on taking the leap! That is so awesome.

Marie Green
13 years ago

Holy shit, this is huge. Inspiring as always, Linda… I’m grateful to have found your corner of the internet!

Katherine
Katherine
13 years ago

I have so much respect for people who don’t let fear make their choices for them. Congratulations! I’m so excited for you and your family.

Amy
Amy
13 years ago

So it’s been said approx. 200 times before I got to my comment but here goes anyway: Fucking CONGRATS dude. I have a feeling you’ll never forget the breathless freedom you feel today.

deb
deb
13 years ago

Brave and true of you. Make you a deal: you keep writing and I’ll buy whatever you put out there. Congratulations.

warcrygirl
warcrygirl
13 years ago

Rock on!

Nancy
Nancy
13 years ago

I knew it was just a matter of time…. way to GO, girl!! You’re going to love this new rollercoaster, wherever it ends up taking you. YOU are in control now!

Jen
Jen
13 years ago

Congratulations! That must have been the best feeling ever. Can’t wait to see where this takes you…

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

Congrats! Best of luck to you. Can’t wait to read all about your new adventures.

Melissa H
13 years ago

Congrats! I can’t think of anyone better suited to succeed as a freelance writer. Keep us posted!

Lisa
Lisa
13 years ago

You will always, always, remember that this decision was the starting point living the life you wanted. You’ve got gonads a lot of us envy and your support system for handling them (JB, a ball-handler!) couldn’t be better.

You stinkin’ ROCK, Linda!

sheilah
13 years ago

That is too cool! I am happy for you. Yay for having the ovaries to follow your dream.

(…since I’m pretty sure you don’t have balls…except the bouncy kind, of course…)

Maria
13 years ago

I’m so happy for you. The day I quit my job to freelance from home was honestly happier than my wedding day. (Sorry, husband.) I’d never felt as liberated and excited and… momentous.

This makes me happy, dude. Like really truly happy.

Nicole
Nicole
13 years ago

Congratulations! This is so awesome. Yes, let us know where you’re writing (and what we can buy!) so we can support you in every way possible!!!

Joanna
Joanna
13 years ago

YES!! That is awesome! Congratulations!

Carrie (in MN)
Carrie (in MN)
13 years ago

Congratulations!

Melanie
13 years ago

Hey! I was just reading my latest issue of Parenting mag and who is the first featured blogger. :-) I felt so ‘in the know’ what with you being in my Reader and all…
Congrats on the new career. You’ll be brilliant.

nonsoccermom
13 years ago

Yay you! Congratulations, and best of luck.

Mommy on the Spot
13 years ago

Congrats! That is awesome!

Takes guts to follow your instincts and your dreams. And no guts, no glory!

Can’t wait to hear about your new adventures!

Michelle
Michelle
13 years ago

Goosebumps. This makes me feel like I do when I watch acrobats performing miraculous feats. Congratulations!

Rosie
Rosie
13 years ago

Squee!!!

sarah
sarah
13 years ago

congrats!! you rock!

Dawn
13 years ago

Congratulations on making the leap! I can’t even imagine how good it must feel.

kinak
13 years ago

What an incredible thing you’re doing: changing your life instead of just bitching about it. You are amazing me today. Way to fucking go, Linda.

heather
heather
13 years ago

you’re awesome. that is all. :)

Becky
13 years ago

Congratulations!

Sarah
13 years ago

Congratulations!!! This goodbye sounds like a great big door opening for you!! Best of luck!

Becky
Becky
13 years ago

Congratulations! So glad to hear it!!!!

Redbecca
Redbecca
13 years ago

I’m so happy for you! And envious and nervous and everything else all at the same time, but YAY! and congratulations! This is awesome!

Cecilia
Cecilia
13 years ago

Congratulations! I’m so happy for you. I gave up my job in July to be home with my 2 year old son and have never been happier.

Lylah
13 years ago

I’m wallowing in my version of your second paragraph right now…

Congratulations on making the leap!

Hillary
13 years ago

Good for you! I’m sure you’ll be a fantastic freelancer.

Clueless But Hopeful Mama

Each step you take toward your dreams is so inspiring.

Thanks for sharing it all with us.

Jaime
Jaime
13 years ago

Congratulations!
I’m so happy for you and your family. My tiny family (my 5 year old daughter and myself) are trying to see our Oregon dream to fruition as well! Maybe we’ll see you there!

Christine
13 years ago

Congratulations! I am so happy and proud of you. It’s such a big jump. You are ten kinds of awesome lady. Rock on with your bad self. :)

Kristy
13 years ago

Fantastic news…best wishes!!

Theresa
13 years ago

*squealing jumpy claps* So excited for you! No guts, no glory! Accompanying you on this adventure is a great privilege. Thanks for sharing.

Anonymous
Anonymous
13 years ago

congratulations! i’m so happy for you and your family. you guys are truly amazing and i hope your guts pay off in a big way. i’m sure it will with your boys, but i hope you see some big bucks along the way too…incoming, i mean, not just the outgoing big bucks! :D

Deb
Deb
13 years ago

OH EM GEE!

Dude, you guys are an inspiration.

I look forward to reading more about your adventures as you hurl yourselves off the cliff of Merely Surviving and into the wild blue yonder of Really Living.