I loved reading this! I am nearly 8 months into a career break and contemplating my next steps. Your post and all these comment give me inspiration! I'm finding myself so much happier being away from a corporate environment.
Fabulous. I'm wondering, after I quit... a little over a year ago it's taking some time for me to detox. Did you have to detox from your marketing career? And if so how long did it take?
Oh WOW, did I ever have to detox after quitting my job!! I was so happy to leave, but the "workmares" continued. I dreamed about former bosses and colleagues, replayed what I might have done differently, and drove myself close to burn-out (again), trying to reinvent my personal brand and show "them" that I hadn't gone out to pasture. It took months for my self-saboteur to stop whispering, should have, could have, in my ear. When I found what filled me up-- what I really wanted to do-- the voices and nightmares disappeared. Give yourself a break and time. Best of luck to you! Peace and clarity are coming.
Great essay! I was a freelance writer, editor, project manager, and event planner for 25 years until a client offered me a full-time position three years ago. I was thrilled to finally have a 401k, health insurance, and a steady paycheck.
That is, until the steel anklet that kept me chained to my desk from 10 until 6 every single day started chaffing, and my central nervous system was activated each year during EOY reviews, and my right eyelid twitched for weeks on end.
I gave my notice on September 1st this year and my last day was November 30th. I am back to being a freelancer! Now my days feel expansive, my spirit is light, and my life belongs to me again. Freedom tastes like peppermint ice cream, cool and refreshing. I am never going back. Xo
Oh, the eyelid twitch! I had that too. Steel anklet is a more accurate description than golden handcuffs. All day. Also, I now need to find some peppermint ice cream! 🍬🍦
Great piece! I've lived my whole working life bouncing from one thing to another. I tried the office thing from a brief minute but know I couldn't do it. At 62 I am not retiring but as a wise friend called it "rewiring." And as a former English major, love your financial advice!
Brava! I admire your bravery and am thrilled the payoff has been that you've found the writer within. Fellow English major (and, after reading this post, I'm convinced, soul sister) here! I quit my 30+ year technical writing career on a Friday last March, four years shy of retirement age, and moved from IL to OR at the invitation of my oldest and his husband. The following Monday, I started a new part-time job (with benefits), in Portland, as a professional writing tutor at a tiny university. The pay was not great, but having an elated student run up to me after class, excited to share they'd gotten an 'A' on a paper I'd helped them with - well, that was gold. I loved it. I really did, but with my youngest still in college, the part-time pay was a hard down-shift, despite years of stashing what I could into savings. In August, I got a contract gig as a technical writer (insert eyeroll emoji here). The pay is great, but not one person has run up to me, excited to share that my helping them in some way made their lives better. Go figure.
I'm brave? YOU ARE BRAVE! Trade offs are necessary. Got to launch those kiddos and pay the rent. Totally get the eye roll. I did some contract writing for a bit...🥴 But you've found your thing, what brings you joy! That is the entire battle right there. ❤️☘️
Love to hear that writing and teaching called to you. The path is twisty, but gratifying once you know you're on the right one for you. I started my MFA in January 2020, graduated in 22. Best way to spend a pandemic!
I left my cushy job in LA several years ago, started freelancing with mixed results. Followed a ping to house-sit with a dog named Jeremy in London a couple of years ago. I met someone the night before I left at a bar because their IG (the bar's) pulled me in on my last night. Came back a year later with a carry-on suitcase to start a creative MBA in the middle of my life. Haven't left. Working on my dissertation now. Oh yeah, and I fell in love with the person I met at the bar that night. On New Year's Day last year we finally met up and jumped on trains to Paris on a whim. Life is wild. Resources are low but spirits are very high.
Yes! It’s a relief to know I’m not alone in leaving all that behind. In 2018 I left my fancy international job unexpectedly to care for my mother. After her death 18 months later, I helped Dad wrap up loose ends (taxes, sale of family house), then tumbled almost gratefully into Covid lockdown. Like you I tried on a few other roles, but the one that called to me was writer and teacher of writing. I earned my MA in teaching writing during the pandemic (Mom’s investments covered tuition) and have been finding my way on this new path for not quite a year. Without my husband’s pension, none of this would’ve been possible.
Hannah, Thank you for your comment. You are definitely not alone. A lot of women are leaving the corp tilt-a-whirl. We have so much on our plates "amid life" right? Helping our aging parents is an emotionally exhausting task...like lock down feels like a relief exhausting!! Keep walking your path. And remember you have lots of company ❤️☘️
Love this essay. Especially the mindset of looking forward, not retiring in any sense of the word. Simply and courageously moving on because it is time and being open to the discovery of what fulfills us next. Thanks for writing and sharing this wonderful piece. Write on!
I loved reading this! I am nearly 8 months into a career break and contemplating my next steps. Your post and all these comment give me inspiration! I'm finding myself so much happier being away from a corporate environment.
Glad to hear it Jill. Thanks for reading. Post-corporate life is the best!
Fabulous. I'm wondering, after I quit... a little over a year ago it's taking some time for me to detox. Did you have to detox from your marketing career? And if so how long did it take?
Oh WOW, did I ever have to detox after quitting my job!! I was so happy to leave, but the "workmares" continued. I dreamed about former bosses and colleagues, replayed what I might have done differently, and drove myself close to burn-out (again), trying to reinvent my personal brand and show "them" that I hadn't gone out to pasture. It took months for my self-saboteur to stop whispering, should have, could have, in my ear. When I found what filled me up-- what I really wanted to do-- the voices and nightmares disappeared. Give yourself a break and time. Best of luck to you! Peace and clarity are coming.
Great essay! I was a freelance writer, editor, project manager, and event planner for 25 years until a client offered me a full-time position three years ago. I was thrilled to finally have a 401k, health insurance, and a steady paycheck.
That is, until the steel anklet that kept me chained to my desk from 10 until 6 every single day started chaffing, and my central nervous system was activated each year during EOY reviews, and my right eyelid twitched for weeks on end.
I gave my notice on September 1st this year and my last day was November 30th. I am back to being a freelancer! Now my days feel expansive, my spirit is light, and my life belongs to me again. Freedom tastes like peppermint ice cream, cool and refreshing. I am never going back. Xo
Oh, the eyelid twitch! I had that too. Steel anklet is a more accurate description than golden handcuffs. All day. Also, I now need to find some peppermint ice cream! 🍬🍦
If you can, get it with hot fudge!!
[blushes]
Great piece! I've lived my whole working life bouncing from one thing to another. I tried the office thing from a brief minute but know I couldn't do it. At 62 I am not retiring but as a wise friend called it "rewiring." And as a former English major, love your financial advice!
Rewiring! OMG - love that so much. (btw - we're the same age)
and we are both in Vermont.... imagine that!
Brava! I admire your bravery and am thrilled the payoff has been that you've found the writer within. Fellow English major (and, after reading this post, I'm convinced, soul sister) here! I quit my 30+ year technical writing career on a Friday last March, four years shy of retirement age, and moved from IL to OR at the invitation of my oldest and his husband. The following Monday, I started a new part-time job (with benefits), in Portland, as a professional writing tutor at a tiny university. The pay was not great, but having an elated student run up to me after class, excited to share they'd gotten an 'A' on a paper I'd helped them with - well, that was gold. I loved it. I really did, but with my youngest still in college, the part-time pay was a hard down-shift, despite years of stashing what I could into savings. In August, I got a contract gig as a technical writer (insert eyeroll emoji here). The pay is great, but not one person has run up to me, excited to share that my helping them in some way made their lives better. Go figure.
I'm brave? YOU ARE BRAVE! Trade offs are necessary. Got to launch those kiddos and pay the rent. Totally get the eye roll. I did some contract writing for a bit...🥴 But you've found your thing, what brings you joy! That is the entire battle right there. ❤️☘️
Love to hear that writing and teaching called to you. The path is twisty, but gratifying once you know you're on the right one for you. I started my MFA in January 2020, graduated in 22. Best way to spend a pandemic!
I left my cushy job in LA several years ago, started freelancing with mixed results. Followed a ping to house-sit with a dog named Jeremy in London a couple of years ago. I met someone the night before I left at a bar because their IG (the bar's) pulled me in on my last night. Came back a year later with a carry-on suitcase to start a creative MBA in the middle of my life. Haven't left. Working on my dissertation now. Oh yeah, and I fell in love with the person I met at the bar that night. On New Year's Day last year we finally met up and jumped on trains to Paris on a whim. Life is wild. Resources are low but spirits are very high.
Great story! London! A dog! Romance! Enjoy the ride--all of it!
I do wish I would have packed better.
The eternal struggle.
Yes! It’s a relief to know I’m not alone in leaving all that behind. In 2018 I left my fancy international job unexpectedly to care for my mother. After her death 18 months later, I helped Dad wrap up loose ends (taxes, sale of family house), then tumbled almost gratefully into Covid lockdown. Like you I tried on a few other roles, but the one that called to me was writer and teacher of writing. I earned my MA in teaching writing during the pandemic (Mom’s investments covered tuition) and have been finding my way on this new path for not quite a year. Without my husband’s pension, none of this would’ve been possible.
Hannah, Thank you for your comment. You are definitely not alone. A lot of women are leaving the corp tilt-a-whirl. We have so much on our plates "amid life" right? Helping our aging parents is an emotionally exhausting task...like lock down feels like a relief exhausting!! Keep walking your path. And remember you have lots of company ❤️☘️
Thabks! I'll drop you a note.
We’d love to syndicate your story in The Midst Substack or the-midst.com! If you’re interested my email is amy@the-midst.com
Love it, wish I had done something different.
Love this essay. Especially the mindset of looking forward, not retiring in any sense of the word. Simply and courageously moving on because it is time and being open to the discovery of what fulfills us next. Thanks for writing and sharing this wonderful piece. Write on!
I had a terrific editor 😉