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Words by Johanna Marie Frejoles | Edited by Tania from Slower Travels

“It felt less like a decision and more like a pull—like the land itself was calling me back.”

In 2018, Johanna Marie Frejoles left behind a busy career in digital marketing and the buzzing pace of Cebu City. She moved to a quiet seaside town at the southernmost tip of the island. What appeared to be a bold pivot was, in many ways, a homecoming.

The Weight of a Life Lived for “Should”

Around 2017, Johanna began to notice a heaviness creeping into her work. On paper, everything looked ideal—her blog was gaining recognition, she was receiving awards, and brand collaborations and press trips were coming in regularly. Living in Cebu City meant constant stimulation, creativity, and access to a thriving community. But it also meant pressure.

The deeper she leaned into content creation, the more she felt like she was performing a version of herself—chasing visibility, the next viral story, the right event. “I wasn’t living life for myself anymore,” she says. “I was living for the shoulds of being a content creator.”

That awareness built slowly, until it became impossible to ignore.

The Move That Changed Everything

In 2018, she packed her bags and headed south—trading the rush of the city for a slower, steadier life by the sea. “Some might call it sleepy,” Johanna says, “but that’s exactly what I was drawn to.”

The decision to move wasn’t just practical—it was deeply personal and rooted in family history. Johanna’s great-grandmother was from the same town. During World War II, the family had fled to the city, but three generations later, she found her way back.

“People often say the third generation always returns. For me, that feels true.”

A Life of Small Routines

These days, Johanna wakes with the sun. Her mornings begin with feeding her seven dogs and two cats, followed by journaling and enjoying a slow breakfast. The rest of her day flows between work, walks by the beach, and watching the sunset. Evenings are quiet—dinner, writing, and the stillness of being offline.

“It’s not complicated, but I’ve come to really enjoy the rhythm of it.”

During the lockdowns, she turned to gardening—eventually winning second place in a local vegetable contest. A typhoon later destroyed the garden, but the sense of calm she cultivated in those moments stayed with her.

She doesn’t travel as much these days, and when she does, it’s not far. Small coastal towns, nearby hideaways, and familiar landscapes have replaced bucket-list destinations. Her sense of discovery is now rooted closer to home.

The Gift of Quiet

What Johanna loves most about her life now is the quiet. The kind that isn’t borrowed from a café or a weekend retreat—but the type that’s embedded in place.

“In the city, I tried to find that same sense of peace… but it always felt like a borrowed or temporary quiet. Here, it’s real. It’s part of the place.”

She hasn’t had an anxiety attack in years. She credits the land, the sea, the silence. Even when life gets chaotic, especially with a house full of animals, she can step outside and breathe. The birds, the breeze, the sound of the waves—these are the tools she uses to reset.

When Peace Feels Far

Of course, slow living has its challenges.

Access to basic services is limited—there’s no hospital in town, and the nearest vet is three hours away. Emergencies still require a five-hour trip to the city. With so many animals, that kind of distance adds stress to everyday life.

But the harder challenge, Johanna says, is internal. There are days when she wonders what she’s missing out on—whether she’s closed the door on opportunities by living far from the action. “Is this really it?” is a question that still echoes from time to time.

“The quiet life also leaves plenty of room for self-reflection, which can be both a gift and a challenge.”

Sometimes boredom surfaces—even with plenty of hobbies. But instead of pushing it away, Johanna lets it teach her something.

“Boredom isn’t always bad. It forces me to sit with my thoughts and find contentment in the ordinary. That’s not easy, but maybe that’s the point of living this way.”

Rewriting What “Normal” Looks Like

To many, Johanna’s life might look unconventional. But for her, it feels like the most natural thing in the world.

“I honestly think I am living a normal life—just not the version of normal I grew up around.”

She no longer feels pressure to conform. When she moved to the coast, it wasn’t about running away from something—it was about moving toward something that felt right.

This life wasn’t chosen out of urgency, but from clarity.

Her Definition of Freedom

For Johanna, freedom isn’t about boundless choices or escaping structure. It’s about living with intention.

“It’s being able to step away from expectations and listen to what feels right—even if that looks different from what others think life should be.”

We all live within boundaries, she says. But freedom is about not being controlled by them. It’s about finding enough space to live honestly and fully.

Advice for Those Who Want to Begin

“Start small,” she says. “Do one thing that makes your life feel a little more your own.”

When Johanna moved, she was 24. She had a remote job and minimal responsibilities. She knows that’s not the reality for everyone—but also believes that meaningful change doesn’t have to start big.

“Those small, intentional steps matter. They prepare you for the bigger leap when the time comes.”

Still Figuring It Out

This life—peaceful, slow, grounded—has given Johanna so much. But she’s still wondering if it’s her final chapter.

“There are projects I’d like to pursue, opportunities that might only come if I step away for a while.”

But the beauty of this life is that it’s not fixed. She could go and return. Stay and stretch. There’s room for both ambition and contentment.

“I’m learning to honour what I’ve built here while keeping space for whatever might call me next.”

Follow Johanna's Story

📍 Instagram: @beanintransit
📝 Blog: beanintransit.com

The Freedom Series: Life On The Other Side of Should is a storytelling project from Slower Travels, spotlighting people who’ve chosen their own path. Want to be part of it?

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