I Decided to Take My Power Back

So I quit my anxiety-ridden, yet completely stable career.

Recently, I decided to put in my two weeks’ notice for my first full-time gig post-grad, where I had just hit my one-year mark. It was a challenging decision for me, amplified by the fact that at this particularly inconvenient time, thousands of working people would be coming off unemployment, sharks in the workforce.

I had been on the fence about leaving for over a month now and had almost left on one occasion prior when my medical freedom had been violated. Of course, there was so much I loved about the place.

I was blessed to work with children on a daily basis and they always brought light to my life. Breaking the news to them one by one broke my heart, as some teared up, while others gave me a big squeeze and kiss on the cheek through their little Paw Patrol or rainbow-themed masks.

Despite this, enough was enough. I was overworked, consistently putting in overtime hours on an hourly pay scale, due to my inability to complete the monstrosity of tasks I often drowned under within a 40-hour workweek. My mental health was shredding to bits, slowly.

No Boundaries

In retrospect, I blame myself for allowing demands to surpass my boundaries. I made exceptions and worked past hours to please the customer, stayed late on Saturdays to check everything off my to-do list, never took a lunch break, and refused to enable boundaries from the beginning.

I kept pushing harder and harder to be the best and prove myself, only to wither away to my own demise. I take responsibility for poorly advocating for myself, which forced me to leave because I had nothing left to give.

I’m grateful, though. I gained a world of wisdom on sales, marketing, blogging, child education, managerial skills, customer service, and most importantly, work-life balance, or lack thereof in my case.

My time became more valuable to me, and every second off the clock was spent with people I love doing things that make me feel alive. I rejoice in the opportunity to grow within a company and foster genuine relationships with the clientele, many of whom were sad to see me go.

Purpose

And now, I take a leap of faith to pursue my passion for writing. I was always fascinated by the art of words, often soddened with meticulously selected ideas and topics I was itching to share with the world.

Part of my job included teaching, my favorite aspect being essay writing. I was enthralled in the creativity my students brought to the table, enticed by their energetic minds, and oftentimes inspired by their passion as well.

Many times, after completion of an unusually enticing prompt, I would go home and complete the same prompt myself, just for the heck of it. I needed to be fulfilled through writing. It was never enough at my workplace and has always been an activity for me that actually gets me out of bed in the morning.

The passion waned through times of struggle and mental stress when my body sought survival mode, but the fire was always reignited within me somehow, no matter the circumstances.

It made me realize that my soul was begging me to pursue a path that quenched my desires. Intuitively, I knew my position was dead-end in terms of feeding my passions. Bravely, yet hesitantly, I finally left.

I dove headfirst into the abyss of the unknown, elated to reach my potential in this lifetime, and most importantly, make a difference in the lives of others through my words.

Fulfillment

Something happens inside of me when I write. To be relatable, I can compare it to how my mind feels when swept up in a good movie, mouth ajar, and at the edge of my seat.

Nothing matters and I notice nothing around me besides the storyline and all of the beautiful aspects that coagulate to form a perfect film. I honor the intricacies of art, somewhat familiar with the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making the final product of a passion project simply magical.

Every day, I learn something or many new things. I obtain wisdom in unexpected ways. It could be a Youtube video, a stranger on the road, a commercial, or vicariously through a loved one’s experience.

Often, I learn from the kids I interact with, their innocence and purity an important reminder to enjoy life and embrace the now.

Mental Health

I decided to take my power back because nothing in this world is more important than my mental health. I encourage you to prioritize your mental well-being over money and success, though it may at times feel counterintuitive.

I feel freer, and I can’t wait to enjoy each moment moving forward, as I enter new territory in my career.

Best,

🆂🆄🆉🍊

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