I quit my job and now I feel at peace

Last month I did the unthinkable, I quit my job. After working in Property Management for the last ten years and growing accustomed to my mind and body being in constant fight or flight mode, I knew I needed to make a change for the sake of my health. Although the industry offered job security for many years to come, thanks to the rental market and continuous feed of techies and professionals relocating to Florida, it came along with a level of stress that wasn't sustainable for me. I was spending all of my free time trying to forget the chaos of the workweek, and happy hour cocktails weren't cutting it. I needed a reset badly. Time to focus on myself, clear my mind, and put together a game plan for my future that didn't involve me feeling like a dried-out house plant.

A while back, an online publication reached out and offered me the opportunity to write for them every six weeks. I didn't exactly have much free time between my weekly blog posts here on the site and all the decompressing I needed to get ready for another week at the office. Still, I thought it might be a great opportunity that could eventually lead to something bigger. A year later, I got an email offering me the chance to write as often as I like for the blog page of my favorite amputee skincare line. I knew I was all in, and as I wrote more and more, I realized that writing was my happy place. I could pour my feelings out into words on a bad day, and people appreciated it; this didn't feel like work at all. I used my anxiety to fuel my creativity, and I never felt more powerful. I knew this was my thing. I just had to find a way to do something I'd never done before, quit a job without having a full-time offer in my pocket.

I didn't sleep well the night before. A mix of excitement and sheer terror was flowing through me like electricity. Was I insane to do this? I've been working since I was nineteen. I scheduled a call with my boss, and with a lump in my throat, I told her the truth. "The stress isn't healthy for me, and there is something else I'm passionate about that I want to try because life is short. I need to walk away, and I want to do it on the best terms possible." I held my breath as I waited for her response. I could hear my heart beating in my throat as the seconds went by, and then, just like that, she said, " I get it. " I didn't need her to understand, but I wanted her to, and those three words meant the world to me.

I gave over a month's notice. I wanted to wrap up projects and leave things in order. I trained my replacement and did my best to make for a smooth transition. It felt right when I walked out those doors for the last time. Over the last month, I've started therapy, traveled, and booked another freelance writing project. I feel less stressed, more independent, and incredibly thankful I found it within myself to follow my gut. I'm feeling good, and I'm more hopeful than ever. Sometimes you have to jump out of the boat, even if it's not sinking.