enjoying the flexibility of freelance

Sure, I had 346 unread e-mails in my inbox and had plenty of work to do. But I wasn’t about to refuse an invitation to spend the afternoon with a couple of girlfriends in the sunshine at Winnipeg Beach when the unexpected opportunity arose. We’ve had far too much rain this summer to spend the nice days sitting in front of a computer.

That’s definitely one of the many pleasures of being a freelance writer and author. You have control over your time, and if you choose your clients, projects and assignments wisely, you’ll be able to enjoy that same level of flexibility in your own writing life.

I learned long ago that life is far too short to put aside pleasures incase of a “rainy day.” (i.e. unforeseen expenses.)

My parents were always denying themselves simple pleasures and saving for that rainy day. Unfortunately for my mother, it never rained. She died from cancer at the young age of 55 and never had the opportunity or pleasure of enjoying the fruits of her labour. She was always working (at home chores such as managing several garden plots, preserving, freezing and canning the produce, sewing all our clothes, cooking, cleaning) and finding ways to stretch the tiny household budget allowed her by my father.

I had the pleasure of spending last Sunday at a family reunion with three of my mother’s cousins who have managed to outlive my mother by more than 40 years. They seem to have found the fountain of youth, as pictured below from left to right are Rose (93), Mary (who I believe is about 90) and Christine who is 85.

These ladies all worked hard during their lifetimes, working their farms and raising their families in Manitoba’s Interlake. But they had the good fortune, health or insights to balance work and play, responsibilities and good times and they’re still here today to tell the tale. I’m looking forward to reading their life stories that one of my cousins is compiling into a book.

Which brings me full circle to the theme of this week’s post. When is the last time you put work aside to spend with friends or family? Have you denied yourself too many pleasures because you are saving for that rainy day? I hope not, because life is just too short to miss out on that lunch or holiday with friends, that latté in the limelight, that self-indulgent moment of pleasure.