From rock bottom to reinvention

Hey everyone, it’s Mora here. If you had told me two years ago that I’d be living in Mexico and making my only income from YouTube videos, I would have thought you were crazy. Yet here I am, and today I want to talk specifically about how this platform became not just a creative outlet, but an unexpected lifeline after leaving nursing.

Many of you have asked about the role YouTube has played in my transformation and whether it could be a path for other nurses looking to escape burnout. So today, I’m getting real about the pros and cons of becoming a content creator after leaving a healthcare career.

MY NURSING BACKGROUND

For those who are new here: I spent nearly thirty years as a nurse, most of that time in the operating room. In early 2024, I was laid off unexpectedly. It was a shocking moment—but also a turning point. I took that break in the road and made a radical change: I left nursing and moved to Mexico. If you’re curious to hear the full story, I share it in this video…

And before I say this let me say that I’d love to hear from younger nurses and everybody, and their experience. But unless you’ve done 20 plus years of work in an environment that forces a ridiculous hierarchy, is high pressure, and where you’re not allowed to tell the truth, please don’t tell me I’m wrong. Talk to me when you have a couple of decades under your belt. 

It makes you wonder why anyone would submit to a job like that in the first place.

It’s now been well over a year since I set foot in a hospital, and I say that with relief and gratitude. I hear from so many nurses who are where I once was—tired, disillusioned, and looking for a way out. There are more than 4 million nurses in the U.S. alone, and far too many of them are working under unbearable conditions.

Let’s be honest about what nursing has become. I watched, year after year, as the corporate machine swallowed up the heart of healthcare. Instead of the resources we needed, we got pizza parties and platitudes. Instead of real support, we got slogans—”heroes” one week, overworked and ignored the next.

Behind the glossy hospital ads filled with smiling caregivers and grateful patients is a much harder truth. I’ve sat in meetings where executives with million-dollar salaries told us that “patient safety is our top priority”—while denying requests for basic staffing and resources. I’ve worked back-to-back shifts only to be told I couldn’t take one day off for a friend’s baby shower.

And the emotional toll? It’s immense. Nurses face burnout at staggering rates, and the suicide statistics are heartbreaking. I’ve seen colleagues cry in supply closets. I’ve seen good people walk away—or worse, stay until the system broke something in them.

I know that pain. I’ve lived the gaslighting, the guilt, the pressure to be “resilient” in a system designed to drain you. There were days I felt so hopeless, I didn’t know how I’d keep going. The truth is, I nearly didn’t.

So when I say I understand, it’s not just empathy—it’s lived experience. And if you’re in that place now, please hear this: you are not weak. You are not alone. There is life on the other side of burnout. There are other paths, and you deserve one that doesn’t cost you your soul.

You deserve peace. You deserve rest. You deserve a life that doesn’t break your spirit.

HOW MY CHANNEL ACTUALLY STARTED

When I made the move to Mexico I intended to live on and stretch my savings as much as I could. I’m 58 now so there’s a while until social security. The cost of living is less expensive here and I needed to take the financial risk and leave when I did because I was in a dark place and needed a big change. Again, Here’s the story if you want some background.

My journey with YouTube actually started before Mexico. If you dig way back in my catalog, you’ll find some experimental videos I made after the pandemic – a silly one about my hair, another about wanting to go on a birthday trip. Then I made a few more when Ricky and I traveled the western United States in a truck and trailer.

Back then, I had no agenda, no schedule, no expectations. I was just documenting moments and places I wanted to remember and learning to edit, find music, and create a story. I got some positive feedback from the few people who saw those videos, and that was cool.

Then I went back to work in Oregon, and it all stopped. I had zero energy for creative projects. My life felt not worth documenting – just working, existing, spiraling into depression. Not exactly inspiring content!

When I decided to move to Mexico in March 2024, I thought I might pick up video-making again and made a simple “Catching Up” video to reconnect with the handful of people who’d watched before. That was technically the start of my Mexico channel, though I didn’t know it then.

Those first couple of weeks crossing the border and traveling south were such a whirlwind that I didn’t film anything. I was too busy navigating a new country with two dogs and everything I owned packed in my car. But once the mad rush slowed down and we started exploring, I picked up the camera again.

By May of last year, I decided to commit to one video per week, just to see what would happen. 

I never really  thought YouTube would become income for me. I assumed you needed millions of subscribers and views just to make pennies. It was purely a labor of love and creativity, a way to focus my energy and connect with people. 

And that’s a good way to do youtube, because it’s time consuming and if you don’t like it you probably won’t want to continue making videos week after week.

Why I Fell in Love with Mexico

Exploring Mexico has been an easy thing to video!

Let me tell you, Mexico is incredible for so many reasons! First, there are those postcard-perfect beaches with turquoise waters that take your breath away. What amazed me most was experiencing the different climates and terrains. In one country, you can go from sun-soaked coastlines to misty mountain towns, from high desert landscapes to lush, green forests. Each pueblo or city has its own distinctive style and vibe—it’s like visiting a dozen different countries.  I love showing some of that in my videos!

I’m especially partial to the charming pueblos, many of them designated as “Pueblos Májicos” (Magical Towns), with their beautiful colonial architecture and cobblestone streets that seem to whisper stories from centuries ago. Walking through these towns feels like stepping back in time, but with great coffee shops! 

But the absolute best part of Mexico? Her people. The kindness I’ve been shown as a stranger is truly remarkable. I’ve had a fiasco or two this past year—like getting locked out of my apartment in a town where I knew no one—and whenever I needed a helping hand, local people demonstrated a warmth and generosity that still brings tears to my eyes.

THE JOURNEY THAT BUILT MY CHANNEL

Crossing the border and moving around that first month, traveling down into Mexico took a lot of mental energy. Making videos wasn’t the first thing on my mind, so there are none about those first couple of weeks. It was a whirlwind of driving, border crossings, new roads, and two confused dogs wondering what on earth I was up to this time!

But after we got to places I wanted to explore, we took more time, and the mad rush was over. That’s when I started getting more serious about really making a channel, and by May, I decided I would make one video per week and see what happened. And you know what? I was enjoying it!

Those videos became a chronicle of our adventures – from La Manzanilla on the Pacific coast to the mountain town of Mazamitla, around Lake Chapala where we stayed for over a month, then up to Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende. Each place brought new landscapes, new experiences, and new videos.

I loved the beautiful pink church in Tequisquiapan near Queretaro, but kept moving because there was so much more to see. Eventually, I made a detour to Villa del Carbon because I saw an Airbnb surrounded by trees and was craving some forest after time in the high desert.

That random detour put me closer to Morelia and Patzcuaro in Michoacan – places I’d heard of but hesitated to visit since they’re on the State Department’s “do not travel” list. But something about Patzcuaro called to me, and I decided to take a chance.

Honestly, my first impression of Patzcuaro wasn’t great – it seemed crowded and trafficky. But after spending time at Plaza Grande, meeting the warm, kind locals, and hiking in the surrounding hills, I fell in love with the area. Eight months later, here I am, still in this beautiful place where foreigners are few, where holidays are spectacular community events, and where the weather has been perfect.

THE PROS OF YOUTUBE AFTER NURSING

1. Unexpected Income

Let’s talk money, because that’s what many of you ask about. When I started, I had no idea YouTube could become an income source for me. I thought you needed millions of subscribers to make anything worthwhile.

When they monetized my channel I was surprised. It took about four months before I saw my first payment, and it wasn’t much. But as the channel grew, so did the revenue. I’m not getting rich, but considering I thought I’d have no income at this point, I’m happy about it. It’s quite variable month to month but here, where the cost of living is lower, it really makes a difference.  

There’s a profound difference between waking up to create content I believe in, at my own pace, and doing a job I dreaded. It doesn’t even feel like work!

2. Finding My Voice

In nursing, especially in the OR, there was always this dance of knowing when to speak up and when to stay quiet. I spent decades measuring my words, filtering my thoughts, sometimes swallowing my objections when things weren’t right.

On YouTube, I found my voice again. I remember the first time I really spoke honestly about my reasons for coming here and what happened. I was afraid to hit publish, but the response has been heartwarming.

There’s a healing that happens when you finally speak the truth after years of careful silence.

3. Community Connection

The most unexpected gift of YouTube has been the community. As a nurse, I connected with patients in meaningful but brief moments. Here, I’ve built relationships with viewers that have evolved over months and even visited with some who’ve come to Mexico.

When I started making videos, connection was a big part of my motivation. I was in a new country where I barely spoke the language, and YouTube became my social outlet. What I didn’t expect was how important and meaningful these connections would become to me.

Some of these people have become real friends. I’ve had coffee with viewers who visited Mexico, made some true friends, and built a network of support I never could have imagined.

4. Creative Fulfillment

Nursing is creative in its own way – we problem-solve constantly. But YouTube opened a completely different creative channel. Learning to film, to edit, to tell a story visually – these skills were new to me and I loved it.

I still have a lot to learn, but I enjoy the process and it doesn’t keep me up at night. There’s something profoundly satisfying about creating something from nothing. A video lives on, continues to connect, and hopefully continues to help people long after I’ve created it.

5. Presence and Mindfulness

As a nurse, I was always thinking ahead to the next task, the next patient, the next problem to solve. Making movies has taught me to see the beauty around me in a way I’d forgotten.

One of the biggest transformations in my life here has been to slow down. I was never the smartest nurse, or the most charming. And my memory for technology and surgeon’s preferences was not the best. But what I had going for me as a nurse was that I was fast.

This is a highly prized trait in the hospital where everything is pushed to go faster and faster and I was good at multitasking under that pressure. It’s been a welcomed challenge to give that up! I used to find myself being as efficient as I could be, doing things I had all day to do! I had to remind myself that I was no longer being judged by my speed. There was no one timing me as I went about my business, which happened a lot in the hospital. 

Having the time, focus and energy to observe and appreciate the moment has changed my life. I’m sure there was beauty around me in Oregon, but I was too burnt out to notice. Here the beauty of every day is like a miracle to me.

When you’re looking for things to film, you notice the way light falls through leaves, the sound of birds in the morning, the colors in a market that might otherwise blur together. This practice of noticing has been healing in ways I can’t fully explain.

THE CONS OF YOUTUBE AFTER NURSING

1. The Learning Curve

Let me be honest – I knew nothing about creating content when I started. And I’m not an expert now! The learning curve was steep and sometimes frustrating. I spent hours figuring out editing software, lost footage because I didn’t know how to properly save files, and made countless rookie mistakes.

I learned on my own, with the help of youtube itself. I’m still using very simple editing tools and my iphone as a camera.  YouTube was learn-as-you-go. There were days I wanted to throw my computer out the window. If you’re not tech-savvy or patient with yourself, this can be a real challenge.

But here’s the thing—when I traded in my stethoscope for a camera, I wasn’t looking for easy. I was looking for alive. And one year in, I can honestly say: I feel more alive than I have in decades.

2. The Inconsistent Income

While YouTube does provide income, it’s not stable like a nursing paycheck. Some months are much better than others. Algorithm changes, seasonal viewing patterns, or just making a video that doesn’t resonate can all impact earnings.

The variability is such that I don’t take it for granted. If financial stability is your priority, creating content requires a backup plan or savings to weather the unpredictable periods.

3. The Vulnerability Hangover

As nurses, we’re taught to maintain professional boundaries. On YouTube, the line between personal and public blurs. I’ve shared tears on camera, talked about my failures, exposed parts of myself I kept hidden for decades.

Sometimes after posting a particularly personal video, I experience what Brené Brown calls a “vulnerability hangover” – that questioning feeling of Should I Have Shared That? It’s a kind of exposure that feels risky in a completely different way than nursing risks. 

There is also a privacy concern. I’m pretty protective of my location because there are crazy people out there. 

4. The Critical Comments

Nurses develop thick skin – we deal with difficult patients, demanding surgeons, and challenging situations. But nothing prepared me for the occasional casual cruelty of internet strangers.

I’ve been criticized for my appearance, my accent, my life choices, and even how I interact with my dogs. I’ve been called names and told to get out. The first time someone left a truly mean comment, I cried. Now I care less, but it still stings sometimes.

The unfortunate truth is that the world is deprived of many gifts and talents from sensitive people who would never put themselves on the internet because of some people’s willingness to hate and criticize.

5. The Constant Pressure to Create

YouTube never stops. There’s always another video to make, comments to respond to, trends to consider.

Sometimes I feel the pressure to keep creating even when I’d rather just experience life. Finding the balance between documenting and living is an ongoing challenge. The algorithm rewards consistency, which can feel like another form of the responsibility trap I was trying to escape.

6. YouTube Can take your channel down at any time.

If you’ve put your heart, soul and time into making videos, and you’ve come to rely on any income you get from the ads, an unexpected take-down, sometimes with no reason given, can be a shock. With millions of channels, enforcement actions do happen daily — but they mainly affect accounts that:

• Repeatedly violate community guidelines (e.g., hate speech, harassment, misinformation).
• Violate copyright or spam policies.
• Have issues related to monetization abuse or deceptive practices. 
• Occasionally, innocent creators get caught in automated moderation systems

So please, if you’d like to stay in touch and I get canceled by youtube, go to my website (there’s a link below) and subscribe there. I just send an email when I make a new video and that’s it. No spam.

WHAT I WISH I’D KNOWN

If you’re considering creating content after leaving nursing or anything else, here’s what I wish I’d known from the start:

1. Start before you’re ready. My early videos are awkward and unpolished, but they’re authentic. Don’t wait until you have perfect equipment or skills. No one watches those first videos anyway.
2. Protect your peace. Set boundaries around when you’ll read comments and emails, how much time you’ll spend on social media, and when creation takes precedence over consumption. 
3. Find your unique perspective. There are many travel channels, many Mexico channels, many nursing channels. The intersection of my experiences is what makes my content unique.
4. Remember why you started. On hard days, I remind myself that this platform gave me a way to process my own journey while helping others imagine different possibilities for themselves.
5. Beware of “Audience capture” ; it happens when creators start shaping all their content—and eventually their identity—around what their audience expects or rewards, often at the cost of their own truth. It can be incredibly limiting. When you’re no longer in alignment with your values or interests, content creation becomes a chore. You stop taking creative risks and start self-censoring, even subconsciously, because you’re trying to keep your audience “happy.”

Making videos about what you genuinely care about fuels consistency. Passion gives you the energy to keep going when growth is slow or feedback is sparse. If you’re just chasing trends or trying to guess what people want, you’ll burn out quickly because you’re creating from pressure, not purpose.

CONCLUSION

Would I recommend YouTube to other nurses looking for an exit strategy? Yes and no. It’s not a guaranteed path to income or fulfillment. It requires patience, vulnerability, and a willingness to learn very different skills than those we develop in healthcare.

But the freedom to shape my own days, to create meaningful connections, and to speak honestly about the realities of nursing and reinvention – these gifts have been worth every challenge.

I left nursing to save my life. I found YouTube and discovered a new one. And I’m so grateful to have these videos to remember our travels! They’ve become a visual journal of this journey, preserving moments I might otherwise forget in the rush of new experiences.

If you’re a nurse watching this and feeling that familiar ache of burnout, know that there are paths forward that don’t require you to keep sacrificing yourself. Your skills, your compassion, your intelligence – these are transferable beyond hospital walls.

Thank you for being part of this journey with me. From those early silly videos about my hair to now making content that actually supports my life in Mexico – it’s been quite a ride. And I’m grateful for each of you who’s watched, commented, and connected along the way.

Until next time, this is Mora, Olive, and Viggo, signing off from our little piece of Michoacan.