Last year around this time, I was let go from a job I loved. It was a shock and I’ll admit I cried and felt the full range of emotions one feels when they’ve been canned. Was it me? My copywriting skills? Did I skimp on the office happy hour schmoozing too much?

My manager offered the corporate classic: “restructuring” and your job being “eliminated.” After some persistence, I got – it was nothing personal, just business. It was just business. If I had a nickel for every time I heard that…well, I wouldn’t have to work.

What I’ve learned in my nearly 30-years working in Corporate America is you’re never safe. Everyone is expendable. I’ve been fortunate enough to have only been laid off from four jobs–the first two I hated and had replacement jobs secured in a matter of weeks. The last two times have resulted in much larger gaps on my resume.

The last two losses are what lead me to freelancing although I wouldn’t say I was particularly successful in this arena. I probably shouldn’t even label myself a true freelancer because I’ve always gone through recruiting agencies who helped me get my foot in the door for a large portion of my pay (pay that really belongs to me, I’m the one doing the work, right?)

So, here I am, unemployed…again. Here I am, freelancing…again. The only difference this time is I’m actually trying to establish myself as my own company, and am researching which is better–an S corp or an LLC. Lately, work has slowed down tremendously and I spend most of my days hustling for clients. This usually entails research–LOTS of research–and cold emails–LOTS of those too. To date, I’ve secured one client using this method. One. That’s it. And as I mentioned earlier, that work has slowed down to almost nothing.

The job hunt isn’t much brighter. Interviews, but no offers. Age? Overqualified? Underqualified? It’s a guessing game. Look, I’m a copywriter, not a social media expert, not a designer, not a project manager. There are so many job reqs with the title of copywriter but what they really want is a “jack of all trades” and that just isn’t me. Still, I am a lifelong learner and have learned a lot about SEO and monetization during my downtime. In addition, building myself a proper portfolio site and this blog, have been great learning experiences for me. This has allowed me to add several more bullets under the skills category on my resume.

But is this the life for me? Is a career change a crazy dream at my age? I love the idea of being my boss, but maybe the “boss hustle” just isn’t my jam. Freelancing is a business, and a tough one at that. Do I really want writing to become a chore? Don’t get me wrong. I love writing. I’ll always write and it’s the reason I started this blog. I’d love if my blog took off and I made enough money to support myself and my family, but that is a big IF. Plus, do I really want to turn it into something I have to do.

I have other interests, mostly in the fashion and beauty realm, but I also love animals. I have aspirations of starting my own dog treat business. I love horror movies. Could I perhaps start a YouTube channel sharing my thoughts on the movies? Or, start another blog where I share them there? I love vintage handbags and thrifting. Could I write about that? Or, start my own business as a reseller.

Are these just pipe dreams? Because frankly, the corporate world holds about as much appeal as a million spiders (and let me tell you, arachnophobia is real!).

The “safe” path is another corporate gig, maybe even until retirement. But is that truly safe? What if the layoff gods strike again, only this time with an even older me? Convincing a 20-something to take a chance might be a tougher sell than those cold emails.

Let’s end on a positive note. My support system is awesome – a hilarious husband, the best kid ever, and a loving family (including an awesome in-law crew!).

This period of uncertainty has been a catalyst for exploration. While the path forward isn’t entirely clear, I’m embracing this time to identify my true passions and the career that aligns best with them. Whether it’s writing, fashion, or something completely unexpected, I’m determined to find work that fulfills me and allows me to build a sustainable future.

The journey might not be easy, but with the support of my loved ones and a newfound sense of purpose, I’m ready to write the next chapter – and this time, I’m holding the pen.

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference. – Robert Frost