Possibly the two most liberating (and scary) words that have ever come out of my mouth.
Today marks the 1 year anniversary of quitting my old job.
One year ago today, I was not in a good place. I was unhappy, depressed, anxious, and fearful of what the future would hold. Despite these feelings, I knew that I wanted to be happy with my career.
One year ago today was quite possibly one of the lowest moments in my life. After quitting, I walked down the office hallway in shock, literally shaking from what just happened. I sat at my desk in shock. I called Eric on the phone and whispered, ‘You’ll never believe what I finally did’, my hands still shaking.
What was I going to do?
Despite all of this, there was a small, glowing flame inside me that started to light up. It burned a bit brighter the day that I quit my job. Each day thereafter, it burned brighter and brighter. After 7 years in university and a few unfulfilling research jobs, I was finally able to sit down, take a deep breath, and really think about what makes me happy.
All of this time, this was the one crucial thing that I had not done. Yes I had written the exams, the GRE’s, gotten letters of recommendations, and straight A’s, but the one thing I did not do is stop to think about what I wanted.
I always did what I thought was expected of me or what career I thought would pay the most money. Both of which, would never make me a happy person, but kill that glowing flame inside my heart until it is no longer burning at all.
I have grown up a lot in the past year. I have struggled with self-doubt and worries that have almost paralyzed me from moving forward with my dreams. There were several times when I almost called it off because I was scared. There have been a lot of tears over the past year, but there have also been many more smiles and exciting moments than I have had in the past 7 years combined.
The past year has really shown me that I can choose a life that I will be happy with. I can make choices every single day to create happiness in myself. I can work my ass off at something I love and feel extremely rewarded.
And most of all, I never have to settle for something that isn’t a right fit for me.
Sometimes it takes us to experience a career field before we know that it just isn’t right for us. Or, we go to law school when we really secretly have always wanted to open up a cupcake shop. Most of the time, we figure out things as we go. There aren’t really any ‘mistakes’, but experiences and the key is to make them learning experiences.
We make the best choice that we can at the time.
When we lost a family friend, Chris, to cancer just prior to our wedding in 2008, I started to question a lot of things in my life. Chris was the same age as Eric and he grew up with Eric. Losing someone so young made me question my own life, choices, happiness, and goals. I decided that I would do something to change my situation. I realized that my time on the earth was not something to take for granted any longer.
While it took me another 6 months to finally get the courage to leave my job, once I said those two words, it was instantly a new beginning for me.
I don’t want to think about what my life would be like today, had I not had the courage to take a leap of faith.
Today I celebrate stepping outside my comfort zone, challenging myself as a person, and deciding that I deserve to be happy.
Have you ever decided to leave a bad situation or a job/college major because it wasn’t a good fit for you?
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For a full recap of how I changed careers, check out my ‘A Year Can Change A Lot’ Series:
Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, and Part 9
Reach for the stars, even if you have to stand on a cactus.
~Susan Longacre
Your entry today really is the most inspiring one of them all. I actually just quit my job last week becasue it just wasn’t for me. For the last six months, I have not been happy with who I was. I was lazy and moody and not the cheerful person I always was. I started to look at my life. If I stayed at my job, I was scared that I would turn into a misrable person who I did not want to be. When I put my notice in to work, everyone in the office thought that it was so strange that I was leaving a great job to go back to retail. I felt like I was breaking up with my job becasue I kept saying, “It’s not you, it’s me”. I think you have to do things that are right for you and that make you happy. My brother said to me one day, “You never have to work another day in your life if you love your job.” And now I will live by that.
I just started reading you blog and I am hooked!! I think you are awesome!!! Your daily entries have really made a difference in my life. I started to incorporate healthy eatting and workouts into my life and I feel great. Thanks for everything!
“You never have to work another day in your life if you love your job.” — I love that!
Hiiiiiiiii! I have been reading your blog but just realized that these past few days I haven’t been commenting! So I just wanted to say hello!
CONGRATS on making that huge decision 1 year ago. I truly believe that we aren’t given anything that we can’t handle, so even though quitting was hard and scary, good has come of it. And congrats on being an inspiration to so many. I know there are plenty of people who are unhappy in their current situations, but are too scared to do anything. Even if they don’t act today or tomorrow or next week, I hope that your story will inspire them to one day take control of their happiness! :)
I think you should celebrate by baking… wait, um no… by NOT baking for the evening! :)
Angela, what a timely post!! I’ve been struggling with a career related issue for some time. Thank you for reminding me of that the most important thing to take into consideration while making my final decision is myself and what will truly make ME happy!!
Have a fabulous weekend :)
What a great post. I too made that very hard decision about a year and a half ago. I thought I’d never stop crying…but slowly realized it was for the better and the decision has increased my happiness by unbelievable levels. Cheers to you for having the courage!
CUTE kitty!
I changed majors my junior year of college and am about to graduate at 25 with a major I love. Sometimes I feel a little behind compared to my peers, but I can’t imagine how miserable I’d be if I stayed with my old major. Good for us!!
Happy Anniversary! Unfortunately, I am now where you were then. Just got back from a week of vacation and am already starting to dread Monday. Good for you to make the change.
Happy Birthday Sketchie!!!
Happy Anniversary! Thanks so much for the inspiring post.
This is so inspiring! It just goes to show you that with a little courage, everything will turn out ok :)
Happy Anniversary!!! I’m currently in a job I hate. I’ve been there for 6 years and I’m still treated like someone who just started where other employees have started and become part of the “group” almost immediately. I’ve never completely felt like I fit in. And you’ve been there 6 years you ask? The flexible schedule allows me to work around my husband’s schedule since we have one car and I kept talking myself out of quitting.
I am in the process of getting ready to leave my job but this year my focus is to finish school (August 2010), save as much as possible since our savings are a little sparse, and try to pay off some of our debt.
You’ve inspired me to work harder so I can make the changes I want to this year. I should have been done with school last February but fear of failure has slowed me down to the point where I’m only a session ahead of where I was last year and very far behind where I should be now. Instead of panicking I’m going to take your advice from your story and work on something small (assignment, reading, review) everyday.
My task this evening is to write my resignation letter with August’s date on it and print it out. I won’t be giving it to my boss yet but I’m also going to put something to the effect of “6 months until you don’t have a job” on my calendar. I’m approaching it as a goal I have to meet and in order to meet it I need to concentrate on school. My way of fighting the fear of failure and change I’ve been combating for a while now.
Happy Birthday to one very cute cat!
this post is awesome! so inspiring!! i’m very happy in my job, but you get me fired up about exploring other ideas i have brewing in my mind! thanks so much. you really rock! : )
Happy birthday Sketchie, from Ninja and Pancakes! And happy change-iversary to you Angela – amazing what can happen in a year!
today is the perfect day for this. I have been studying psychology for the past four years. I graduate college in may and had no idea what I wanted to do. I looked into graduate school in social work because I knew it was one of the only things i could do with my major without going to school for my doctorate. For the longest time i wanted to go into nursing but knew it was too late to change now. well today, i asked not to do my internship that is supposed to start monday, enrolled in a biology class instead..and met with an advisor to do a one year nursing licensing program. I HAVE NEVER FELT BETTER! for the past years i have felt like i was working toward something that i didnt want. today i am excited to work harder than ever in the coming year.
The most liberating thing that one can for themselves is to stand up for who they are..even if they’re not sure. Just saying ‘Nope not doing that anymore’ is empowering.
I was in a mudane job and I knew that it wasn’t going to go anywhere. I went to East Timor in July and decided after going that I was going to go back to school to become a nurse. I am taking on over 60,000/debt and giving up two of my adult yeast to be a nurse. However, one I made the decision I knew that it was the right now.
It’s funny cause there’s all this talk that pops up into your brain–mainly financial–that limits us. However, I know that when it’s the right decision the worry is still there but everything falls into place. It’s almost easy, meaning that it just flows even when roadblocks come about.
Good on you.
I think everyone goes through this. We’re forced to pick a career path when we’re 16 and then stay on the trail because we’ve already invested so much time into it… it’s a vicious, never ending cycle.
I’m definitely going through this, to a certain extent right now. It’s such a comfort that others have felt the same way and now have such a great success!!
Congrats on everything you have done in the past year! It was 13 months ago I quit a job that was making me miserable. I was terrified, because I had no back-up job, but now I’m focusing full-time on nursing school and I love it so much. It’s hard and occasionally, I think “man, things used to be easier,” but I’m so much happier now!
Congratulations, happy anniversary, and thank goodness you started Oh She Glows! It’s very difficult to leave a path that is certain (even if it’s certainly miserable) for the unknown.
PS-Happy birthday, Sketchie!
Yayyy!! Congrats Angela!! What a perfect way to celebrate :D As you know, I recently left a job that was oh-so-wrong for me to be a personal trainer. Training isn’t the be-all-end-all for me, but it’s a step in the right direction. The first of many positive steps I hope :)
Great post Angela and happy 1 year anniversary of happiness! I think too often we equate quitting with failure, or taking the easy way out, when it can actually be the hardest yet best thing to do.
I’m stubborn and always had the mentality that you had to stick with whatever you start so I understand how scary it is to identify when you need to make a change. Congrats!
I can’t help it! You’ve inspired me to blog! I am seeking clarity and balance with a seaside flare. Trying to avoid food as a focus, but we’ve already installed the BBQ on the back railing. Check out our 25″ sailboat adventure!
http://sailingtrainingwheels.blogspot.com/
LP
Congratulations!! You are such an inspiration – I cannot begin to tell you how much reading your blog has changed my life. I only came across it a few weeks ago but your Road to Health series has already started me off on my journey. I hadn’t yet read the “A Year Can Change A Lot” and I am now only on Part 6 but SO MUCH is resonating (as well as keeping me on the edge of my seat!) I have literally just now applied for a savings account because of your post about how savings gives you choice (same old story – in a job I hate but have dreams of something happier!) I have thrown out my scale and started to eat more and more healthily. From helping me with my eating disordered thoughts (the post I just read about “default thinking” is AMAZING and filled with practical advice, as is all the advice about binge eating) to career guidance and inspiring me to save money – your blog has helped me so much.
I feel so lucky to have found it – I can’t beleive it is only a year old and has so many stellar posts that are touching and relatable and helpful. Thank you so much for posting your journey xxx