I know many educators, creatives, and overseas Filipino workers grinding a 9-5 job are in the same place I once was. I was in that spot of longing for something more, but was unsure how to start or where they’ll land.
This blog and my freelance digital business exist to say that…
Yes, it’s possible to transition.
Yes, your skills are transferable.
Yes, you can build something purposeful and profitable without burning out.
Yes, you can earn a living that will allow you to work from anywhere, even while travelling the world.
If this speaks to you, I invite you to read my blog post below and hear my story and insights!
Here’s my wonderful journey to building a digital business.
💥Before the Pivot
For 11 years, I dedicated myself to teaching and training, 2 years as a subject matter expert, 7 years as a college lecturer, and another 2 years as an online ESL teacher. I taught Product Training, Workplace English, Business Communication, Learning Skills, and helped train future professionals.
I cherished those “lightbulb” moments, when a student would connect an idea to their own life and feel seen, understood, and inspired to grow. Teaching was never just a job for me. It was a calling.
It has been and in many ways, it still is.
But even with all the fulfillment teaching gave me, I knew I wanted more flexibility.
I wanted to create something outside the classroom walls.
I wanted to build something of my own, something that could travel with me, grow with me, and allow me to explore other parts of who I was.
In the middle of those years, I started exploring the options for me… quietly at first.
💥 When the Spark was Lit
In 2014, I stumbled upon a Filipina travel blogger named Trisha Velarmino. She was solo-traveling across Latin America and documenting her journey on her blog, P.S. I’m On My Way. I was instantly hooked.
After work, I found myself binge-reading her stories, day after day, night after night. Her words became a window to a world far beyond mine, and something about it stirred something in me. A spark.
When inspiration strikes, I don’t wait around. I take massive action.
💥Snippets of Wonders was Born
In January 2015, I published my very first blog post on WordPress. A few weeks later, I bought my domain and hosting services, and just like that, Snippets of Wonders was born. That was February 2015. It’s been 9 years since.
You might think I spent weeks brainstorming a name, but oddly enough, I didn’t. Though I’m an overthinker by nature, sometimes I just let intuition take the lead. The phrase snippets of wonders simply felt right.
To me, “snippets” are glimpses, pieces of stories, fragments of things that once were whole, puzzle pieces still waiting to come together. They represent the past, the present, and what’s yet to be discovered.
“Wonders” speak to that childlike curiosity that lives inside me. I’ve always been inquisitive. A little stubborn. The kind of person who will dig deep, research every angle, list all the pros and cons and then, at the last minute, trust my gut and take a leap.
Snippets of Wonders has evolved with me, just as I hoped it would. From a personal blog, it has grown into a reflection of how I see the world and how I choose to live in it.
Because for me, there’s always an option to live life differently… only if we wonder and wander enough.
If you want to know more about how my blog has evolved over the years and what influenced the changes, here’s my story about it.
💥When the Universe Winks
And maybe…just maybe, I’m good at manifesting.
Seven years later, the very woman whose blog once lit a fire in me became my client and then my boss. I worked with Trisha as her Virtual Assistant, supporting her travel blog and online business behind the scenes.
It still feels beautifully funny how the Universe works, how it quietly lines things up when you’re not even trying to control the outcome.
All I knew back then was that I wanted a life that allowed me to create, explore, and help others. And somehow, that intention found its way back to me.
It was a lovely full-circle moment!
💥Quiet Shifts but Big Leaps
February 2015 marked a quiet shift. Aside from starting my blog, that’s when I also began teaching ESL online.
At the time, I was still working abroad as a college lecturer on a contractual basis standing in classrooms during the day and exploring this new digital world by night.
But deep inside, I already knew.
I wanted to work online. I wanted to design a life that allowed me to work from anywhere, at hours that felt aligned with my energy.
That seed of intention kept growing.
💥Finding my Zone in Instructional Design
And in 2016, it sprouted into something new…my first freelance gig in instructional design.
I remember creating my first learning module and thinking, “Wait… I could actually do this for clients? From my laptop?”
It was exciting and terrifying all at once. But it felt right.
And that was the beginning of a whole new path.
Instructional design felt like home. It allowed me to combine my background in education with creativity, systems thinking, and problem-solving. I started offering freelance services to growing businesses that needed training materials, onboarding systems, and learning pathways that were clear, professional, and ready to use.
💥The Year I Became an Online Business Manager
Then in 2018, a new opportunity found me, one I hadn’t even known I was preparing for.
I became an Online Business Manager for a water sports brand based in Switzerland. What started as a small virtual support role quickly evolved into something much bigger. I handled dropshipping operations, paid supplier invoices, managed customer service via email, ran the brand’s social media and newsletters and slowly, I helped streamline systems that made the business run smoother and scale faster.
I stayed with them for nearly five years.
It was my first taste of being deeply involved in the backend of a growing digital business not just as a task-doer, but as a systems thinker, strategist, and trusted partner.
And I loved it.
💥I Never Thought Pinterest Would Be Part of the Plan
In 2021, something unexpected happened again. I discovered Pinterest marketing through a client. And not just any client, it was Trisha, the very same travel blogger who first inspired me back in 2014.
Funny how life works, right?
That opportunity opened a whole new skill set I never imagined I’d master. What began as simple pin scheduling soon turned into full-blown traffic and brand growth strategies. Since then, I’ve had the joy of working with 11 bloggers, freeing up their time and helping them grow their traffic, expand their reach, and build stronger brands through Pinterest.
It taught me that skills compound. That one client could lead you to a new path. And that sometimes, the Universe sends you full circle, not to start over, but to start wiser.
💥What Life Looks Like Today
Today, I work with fellow professionals each bringing unique experiences from fields like business, banking, education, and architecture. Together, we design instructional materials and learning solutions for startups, schools, and agencies.
This journey also inspired me to create a growing collection of digital tools, templates, and thoughtful learning experiences now available in my shop. I’m in the process of building courses for those who are just beginning their own paths, and I’m excited to share what I’ve learned so far.
Looking back, I’m so thankful I took that leap. And honestly? When I’m having my afternoon siesta with a cup of coffee or tea and Netflix playing in the background, I always whisper a quiet thanks to God… for the flexibility, for the growth, and for a life I once only imagined.
The goal was never to be rich or earn millions. I simply wanted to earn enough to support the lifestyle that feels right for me, one that honours my introverted nature, my creativity, and my love for quiet days and slow mornings. I’m the kind of person who finds joy in simple routines, deep conversations, and meaningful work. I don’t crave grand things or big crowds. I like my peace, my tiny circle, my coffee or tea, my siesta, and the freedom to explore, both the world and different versions of myself.
💥You Can Evolve, Too
Leaving a long-standing career to start something new isn’t always easy. There were moments of doubt, seasons of slow progress, and a steep learning curve when I entered the online space.
But it was also incredibly freeing.
I learned that your past doesn’t limit your future. It informs it.
That teaching is never wasted. It simply evolves.
That you can be many things in one lifetime and each version can be valid, aligned, and powerful.
If your vision of success looks different from the mainstream, that’s okay. Sometimes, the most beautiful version of success is a slow afternoon, creative freedom, and knowing you built it on your terms.
If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you don’t have to wait for everything to make sense before you take the first step.
Sometimes clarity only comes after the leap. If you’ve been quietly dreaming of something more…more aligned, more flexible, more you…maybe this is your sign.
Start small, but start somewhere.
(We write our content in the hope of making you, our readers, feel a little more inspired in a time when you’re probably feeling low. We hope you feel a little lighter after visiting our site. Then, we know we’ve served our purpose.⭐)
🍀 Let’s Stay Connected
If this post resonated with you, let’s keep in touch. I share more on:
- ✈️ Travel, cozy cafes, food discoveries, and freelance life on Instagram and Facebook
- 🧠 Mindful productivity, instructional design, and digital business on LinkedIn
- 💻 Plus, I regularly share digital products and courses to support freelancers, educators, and startups on all three platforms.
Let’s connect. I’d love to learn about your journey too!
