From the Moment I Set Foot in the Netherlands…
I knew I wanted to move abroad. But my dream of living overseas always felt just out of reach. I made several attempts: studying Spanish in Spain at 21, teaching English there at 26, and even returning to pursue a master’s degree at 29. Each time, though, my story reached the same seemingly inevitable conclusion: I’d return to my home state of Texas to “get a real job.”
There were practical obstacles, but the pressure to conform was just as limiting. Society, family, and my own internal expectations all pushed me toward a more traditional path: climb the corporate ladder and measure your worth by title and paycheck. I gave it my all, but I never found fulfillment trying to fit into that box.
At 35, with no clear plan, I quit another job and packed my bags. It felt like my last shot at a lifelong dream. Doubts loomed: Was I too old? What if it didn’t work out?
As I settled into my new life in Spain, something shifted. Outside the confines of a 9-to-5 grind, I found creativity and clarity. I discovered new interests and, within a year and a half, I started She Hit Refresh, a business that empowers women ages 30+ to transform their lives by moving abroad.
Nearly a decade later, I have a thriving business, a fulfilling career, and a sense of identity I struggled to find in the U.S. The fresh outlook I found in Spain wasn’t a coincidence – living overseas allowed me to rewrite my story.
In my new environment, I no longer felt bound by labels that weren’t working for me. I found the freedom to redefine myself. With the lower cost of living, I could take risks that would have been impossible before – like becoming a freelancer, pursuing creative projects, and pivoting my career. With lower rent, affordable healthcare, and more disposable income, I had the flexibility to invest in myself and the courage to dream bigger and take risks.
Spain had a gentler rhythm that I quickly embraced. Dinners turned into long, lingering conversations, and spontaneous meetups replaced the overscheduled social calendars I was used to. With the slower pace of life and lower cost of living, I found myself with shorter work hours, fewer obligations, and more energy left at the end of the day.
This downtime became a catalyst for self-discovery. I began asking myself questions I’d long avoided: What do I really want? What excites me? What kind of life do I want to create? I channeled this energy into exciting projects, including a (brief) vegetarian meal-prep experiment, creating an online and in-person community for digital creatives, and eventually launching my own business.
It changed my entire outlook on life. Looking back, I can’t help but marvel at how far I’ve come since that pivotal moment when I took the leap to move to Spain for good a decade ago. The woman who left the U.S. doubted her ability to build the life she dreamed of. But by starting fresh, I found not just a new place to live, but a new way to live. I’ve rebuilt my career, discovered new passions, and cultivated a sense of self that was impossible to access in America.