I was reminded this week just how much choosing to become a freelancer impact the people around me.

A good friend of mine lost her mother a few years back. It was after a long battle with a particularly devastating disease, and she ended up passing away just after her birthday, and just before Mother’s Day. While Mother’s Day impacts everyone different, I know that around this time of year, this friend needs a bit of extra support since so many painful anniversaries and memories come flooding back at the same time. Usually we schedule something a week or so ahead of time.

Things have been extra challenging for her at work though, so this year, she decided, last minute, to take a Friday off.

“I want to go see Keanu this Friday and just decided to take tomorrow off…wanna go?”

Now…I’ll admit I wasn’t too hyped to see Keanu, so I considered pushing it out until that weekend, but I already had a busy Saturday planned, so I knew it had to be Friday. I also knew this movie was more than just a movie for my friend — it was a break, so I decided to just shift some things around and go.

After the movie, on the drive home she said some things to me that have me choking up right now, and that will resonate with me for the rest of my life…and you know what? Without a more flexible schedule, I don’t think it would have happened at all.

Freelancing is business, and it’s a living, and it’s cool right now, but it also changes lives.

Megan.