I was on a business trip in Spain when my entire career flipped upside down.
I got a Zoom invite from our company’s CEO. In a brief meeting, I learned that our publication had been sold and our whole staff of journalists was laid off, effective immediately.
Coming to terms with being newly unemployed took me a while — maybe even a little longer than it should have. Like many others who work in my industry, the lines between my career and my identity were blurred.
Losing the security of both my income and the idea of who I thought I was proved to be a disorienting experience. I’m a writer. Who am I if I’m not writing?
It didn’t take me long to realize that the joy I found in writing didn’t vanish with the layoff, but I’d be lying if I said I had a concrete plan about what I was going to do next. After putting my emotions on the back burner and thinking logically about next steps, I knew I needed a fresh start.
I picked the high-risk choice over a false sense of safety
I was living in Oakland, California, and working remotely when the layoff happened; however, remote opportunities in my field have become increasingly rare.
In order to stay in my industry, I felt like I had two options: New York or Los Angeles. I’d always pondered the idea of moving to LA, and maybe this was the right time to bite the bullet.
When I started telling people about a potential move to LA, reactions were mixed. The friends that I had in Southern California were excited about the possibility of spending more time together, but my loved ones in Northern California were a little more wary.
Most people were concerned about one thing: Relocating to an expensive city without a stable income or even a job offer wasn’t a financially smart decision.
Technically, they had a point. I’d be paying more for rent, gas, and other bills if I moved to Los Angeles. It would probably be more responsible to stay where I was, stick to my usual routine, and secure full-time employment before making any big life changes like moving away.
I was lucky to have funds saved up and some freelance work, though, and I was going through a time where I felt like I’d lost every ounce of emotional stability. I figured that if my life was already in shambles, I might as well rebuild it in a place that came with a clean slate and new opportunities.
Staying put out of fear wasn’t going to bring my job back, but maybe leaving would help me find something better.
I had some doubts when I first got to LA, but I quickly adjusted
I was hopeful about the move, but I wasn’t extremely confident about my decision when I was making the drive down to LA. After all, I was going to be living alone and paying a significantly higher rent there on a freelancer’s salary.
Once I settled into the new apartment, though, I began exploring LA and trying to build a community. Luckily, several of my college friends already lived in the area.
On the days we couldn’t get together, I went sightseeing on my own, started volunteering at a dog adoption center, and joined a local journalists’ chapter so I could meet other creatives. Emotionally, things quickly started looking up.
Financially, however, there were ups and downs. During those first couple of months, I had weeks when I had enough work not to worry about my bills — but there were other days when I was too afraid to check my bank account. Those were the times I feared the naysayers were right.
However, there have been tons of benefits, too. In LA, I’ve been able to connect with a strong community of writers and find new work opportunities.
Plus, I’ve actually had time to enjoy my new city. Back when I was working in a full-time staff position, I wasn’t stressing too much about finances — but I also had to wake up and work East Coast hours.
Not to mention, the hustle and bustle of my work also didn’t allow me the freedom to take a break during the day, grab lunch with a friend, or even just go for a walk outside.
Ultimately, my intuition led me exactly where I needed to be
I’ve now been in LA for a little over six months, and I’m glad I followed my gut.
Being in this city helped me meet so many more people in my industry, find new freelance opportunities, and slowly rebuild a sense of stability — albeit one that sometimes looks different from what I initially imagined.
I’ll admit: Relocating without a safety net wasn’t the safest or smartest financial choice. But it taught me to trust myself and go after the things I want, even when those things seem scary or impractical.
Now, I’m creatively fulfilled, the happiest I’ve felt since starting my career, and proud of myself for taking the leap.
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