My Pivot to Thailand: Slower Living, Softer Days Abroad

My Pivot Has a Passport

For 12 years, Free and For Me shared the latest and greatest in entertainment, food, travel, family, and more. As empty nesting came into play, a new chapter, my pivot, began. In February 2025, a life filled with a mix of fast and slow made its way to Thailand. Portugal is the end goal, but a year or so stop in Chiang Mai, Thailand was slightly unexpected… yet deeply needed.

While I was enjoying empty nesting, my son and daughter were home for the holidays in December 2023. They opened my eyes to things I was aware and unaware of—but needed to see more clearly. When they suggested moving abroad and I said yes, they were shocked. There was a shift in me that’s hard to explain, but it was real.

The plan was to live in Bangkok. But as soon as the plane landed, life as I knew it instantly changed. Within minutes of arriving, heartache came into play. I’ll share that at a later date. Needless to say, Bangkok held too many sorrowful feelings in just one week of staying there.

I heard about Chiang Mai. That’s where I landed. A slower pace than Bangkok, just what I needed. I was able to get my bearings, breathe a little deeper, and start to feel like myself again.

Moving to a completely different country has taken time to adjust to. Vacationing is one thing. Living is another. So many things come into play, learning the language, navigating without knowing it, adjusting to the fact that this is not America, and reminding myself that it’s not supposed to be. I had to find a home, understand the layout of the city, and slowly settle into this new rhythm.

Although I loved where I came from, the fresh air, the clean city, the bubble I lived in, I needed to take some time to step away. I don’t like to say I “moved.” This is a few-years vacation. Even though I’m still working, I’m learning not to feel hurried. I’m learning to relax. I’m learning how to take naps. I’m becoming more mindful.

This pivot is not about escaping anything. It’s about growing into something. And I am excited to share his journey.  Join me in my pivot.