Story: freelance and loneliness
Nowadays, many people work as freelance. I easily come up with some benefits, such as flexibility, opportunity and productivity. However, I, as a new immigrant to Canada, don’t feel many benefits for freelance. If we have enough clients and moderate cash flow, we financially don’t have to take corporate job, but I think it’s a huge decision. I meet many immigrants who say I have my own business. Many of them are self-employed or 2-3. If they choose it in several choices, that’s okay, but ironically, new immigrants just cannot get a local job easily even they have skills.
In relating to my work, I see people who are working with a laptop at a cafe. They often lean into it seriously. I don’t want to be like that. I don’t much design work at the cafe. Instead of that, I write blog, research or make rough layout. I don’t stay there for over 3 hours. I don’t want to bother the local cafe business. It’s my rule.
We are missing many opportunities to connect with local people and society. In the results, we hung out people only the same nationality or descent into social isolation. As the results, we cannot break a language barrier.
Solitude is necessary for having gratitude to friend, family and environment. However, too much isolation will be caused by mental illness. You cannot keep a good work with it.
In October sometime, I attended a couple of local meetup. I talked with local people. I felt that everyone look for a connection, human interaction. It is not only for business, simply human nature.
Therefore, I decide to research how to avoid isolation, overcome the socail isolation in Vancouver, BC as freelance.
Category and theme
– Usually we cannnot get a dog, but the idea of borrow a dog is interesting.
– Look up local teams or running clubs are a realistic way.
– Take a continuing education class is also possible.
– Take a picture.
– Go to cultural events.
– Volunteer somewhere you’re passionate about.
BuzzFeed: 17 Smart Ways To Make New Friends When You Move
Meetup is a major platform to meet people who has similar curiosity. I sometimes want to put myself into totally different environment. I try to discover something myself.
Community
– Startup ★
– Mentorship ★
– Volunteering ★
– Neighbourhood △
– Parenting
– Church
– Dog(anything animals)
Club(cultural) activity
– Speech club ★
– Philosophy club ★
– Book club ★
– Movie club
– Video club ★
– Trail club
– Sports club △
– Bicycle club
Class/Lesson
– Voice training ★
– Dance plactice
– Video shooting
*I think anything exists what you are interested. For instance, cooking, guitar, photograph etc. Search it.
Isolation is the dream-killer, not your attitude | Barbara Sher | TEDxPrague
– Isolation is the dream killer.
– We are problem-solving animals.
– What is your wish and what is your obstacle? People want help. Amazing things will happen to you.
– We depend on each other’s dreams coming true.
– Every time you make someone else’s dream come true, it echoes.
How social media makes us unsocial | Allison Graham | TEDxSMU
– We touch our phone 150 times a day.
– We upload 1.8 billion pictures to Facebook.
– If you think about selfie it’s rather than a sad invention.
– We can use social media to create positive face-to-face groups and organizations and meeting places. Not hashtag aactivism but people activism.
– We need to look up and put that phone away, make a human connection, teach human interaction.
Everyone has the experience to see a couple or family in which everyone touches a cell phone at the table. It looks really wired. I don’t want to do that. I would like to focus on the present.
The Simple Cure for Loneliness | Baya Voce | TEDxSaltLakeCity
– Loneliness is a public health crisis.
– Be popular.
– I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer. – Jim Carrey
– Simply spend more time nurturing relationships with others, priolitize connection.
– You have your retual to go back to.
Quit social media | Dr. Cal Newport | TEDxTysons
– I’ve never had a social media account, I’m okay. No worry.
– Happier, and more sustainably, successful professional.
Common objections
– Social media is a fundamental tech. I cannot take such a big stance in my life.
– Opotunities won’t come my way and I will effectively disappear from the economy.
– It’s harmless. I have some fun with it. I don’t even use it that much. I’m a first adopter.
Live in the Moment: Delete Social Media | Ryan Thomas | TEDxAshburnSalon
Don’t use social media requires your strong determination. You have to show benefits and results to a company if you look for a job, how good you are rather than ordinally social media users. I am personally not an active user, but I am using marketing tools. I personally don’t need social media, but my job does not have this choice. I have to reach potential customers and engage for client in any way.
Startup community
Vancouver startup week
Startup Grind
Startup Canada
“A startup is a company working to solve a problem where the solution is not obvious and success is not guaranteed,” says Neil Blumenthal, cofounder and co-CEO of Warby Parker. – Forbes
As a freelance, I have no doubt you have an entrepreneur’s mind. I found Startup Grind through the Meetup event, talk session of blockchain investor, by chance. I heard an investor’s talk on live streaming from England. I obviously could boost in my mind. Your environment significantly influences to you. This is a good way to change to your habitat.
I would like to leave a good mission which I heard.
– Give first
– Make friend
– Help others
CreativeMornings
I found CreativeMornings in 4 years ago by chance. I still remember when I first attend at CreativeMornings. I was super nurvouse. I didn’t know anybody. I didn’t know how to communicate to people. It might be the first experience for me how people suround me influence. I tried to get into a meeting, but I cannot get a tickets easily. CreativeMornigns is quite big community. You can find it if you are living mid-size of city. I like the manifesto below.
CreativeMornings Manifesto
Everyone is creative.
A creative life requires bravery and action, honesty and hard work. We are here to support you, celebrate with you, and encourage you to make the things you love.
We believe in the power of community. We believe in giving a damn. We believe in face-to-face connections, in learning from others, in hugs and high fives.
We bring together people who are driven by passion and purpose, confident that they will inspire one another, and inspire change in neighborhoods and cities around the world.
Everyone is welcome.
Toastmasters International
I am writing everything which I know sincerely. In any situation, you will face to communicate others. It is not necessarily to public speaking, but it’s a critical and fundamental skills if you live in abroad. People cannot help you if you don’t tell your feeling, circumstances. Don’t expect someone’s help. Let’s overcome isolation myself.
The mission of a Toastmasters Club is to provide a mutually supportive and positive learning environment in which every individual member has the opportunity to develop oral communication and leadership skills, which in turn foster self-confidence and personal growth. – Toastmasters International
Meetup
Find Meetups so you can do more of what matters to you. Or create your own group and meet people near you who share your interests. – Meetup
I use Meetup a lot to learn something new and meeting new people. Some meetups require a fee, less than $15 generally. I don’t meet many strangers in a meetup. One of problems are 30% of people does not actually show up even people registered. People need more discipline.
Eventbrite
Eventbrite brings people together through live experiences. Discover events that match your passions, or create your own with online ticketing tools. – Eventbrite
Outdoor Vancouver
Outdoor clubs are a great way to meet new people who share your interests, learn more about an activity, and find motivation to get out and participate in new and different sports. – Outdoor Vancouver
– Vancouver Biking & Cycling Clubs
– Vancouver Hiking Clubs and General Outdoors
– Vancouver Paddle Sports Clubs
– Vancouver Rock Climbing & Mountaineering Clubs
– Vancouver Running Clubs
– Vancouver Skiing Clubs
– Others
Facebook Event
There is an event category on facebook. I have a facebook account, but I don’t use facebook a lot. I upload photos once a year. that’s it.
I understand the power of facebook. Therefore, I would like to blog what we can do on facebook in November.
Google Search
– event calendar
– social event
– networking
– activity club
Once search these words, Google shows the event near you. Google knows where you are.
Citysocializer
I still don’t know how much active this service. I will try when I need.
EVENTS CALENDAR at VPL
There are many events every day. I attended Career and Job Search Tour or Career Explorer when I received PR. It was helpful as knowlidge, but VPL does not introduce any job. You have to find yourself. I heard if you have VPL card, you can use lynda.com for free. Good to know.
I found a couple of video classes. That’s interesting for me.
Volunteering
When you dive into a new country or community, a volunteer may be the right first step. You may feel anxiety in an unsustainable life. I understand you are something professional in your country. You could earn money.
Volunteer requires patience, generous mental. You cannot expect any return. If you keep your mind positively, you receive a lot more than money.
Church
Steve Jobs said, “I would walk the 7 miles across town every Sunday every Sunday night to get one good meal a week at the Hare krishna temple. I loved it.”
Religion may help you if you believe something. God always be around you. My grandparents were christian. I grew up at countryside of Japan, but there was a church. I think you can find it in any city.
Public sector
Canada quite openly welcomes new immigrants. I appreciate that. I also decided I have to contribute to the country’s growth. Canadian government knows new immigrant needs help. There are many public sectors for an immigrant in Vancouver, BC. Just I want to remind, don’t expect they can solve your problem. They don’t have much time to help you. Always keep standing bu yourself.
WorkBC: Jobs, education and career information
ISSofBC: Immigrant Services Society of BC
MOSAIC: Services for immigrants and refugees.
YMCA Immigrant Services: YMCA of Greater Vancouver
SUCCESS.BC: Immigrant Settlement & Integration Program
Life reflects our hearts
Compared to parents generation, we may be soft. Many of us don’t know war, fortunately. We don’t have many chances to put ourselves into unreasonable circumstances.
We have to be strong. We have to push ourselves more. Life is tough. I am wondering why life is full of stress. We face a lot of problems.
As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.
The problem is an opportunity to grow. We have many opportunities in the current society. Get out a comfort zone. We can overcome social isolation. We have tools. If you cannot find it, make it.
Everything depends on you.
