Why I Quit My Job & Haven’t Looked Back

This piece was originally published on July 17, 2018. It hits a bit different now because I feel like I am back where I started. The circumstances are definitely a little different, and I am not the same person I was in 2018.

But part of me still is. The fire I had when quitting the job I hated, to finding purpose in writing again, and being able to share it - it's still here.

I am back where I started. And man, it feels good to be home.

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I quit my job. A good, right out of college, good benefits, 9 to 5 job. I quit my job...and my mom told me to go to the psychologist.

I had no money saved. I decided I would drive for Lyft and Uber to pay my bills. I had student loans and a massive amount of bills piling up. I quit my fucking job.

I’m not going to lie, I fell into a bit of a depression when all this happened. I had been complaining for months about my job. There was nothing wrong with it. I was just out of my mind, completely, utterly BORED.

I am an active thinker. My mind wanders and I like to keep busy to refrain from thinking about the shitty parts of life. In my downtime (which was all the time), I would go through every social media account I had. I would pick fights with my (then) boyfriend. I would look over my upcoming bills and look over them again. My mind would feel like mush at the end of the day. I wouldn’t do shit all day and I would still end up going home completely exhausted.

So after a couple of months of feeling useless, stressing about my family, relationship, and bills, I said fuck it. Fuck it all. Throw in the towel, Gail. Get out and find what you really want to do. Find your calling. Do what you have to do in the meantime.

Naturally, a “normal” person would love a job where they can sit at a desk and do nothing all day. I am sure that is most definitely a lot of peoples' dream job. But nope. I could not do it. I’d rather sling wings and beer all day (which I have). I’d rather spend more time with my puppy while she grows up. I’d rather sit at a coffee shop and write about how I quit my job (haha).

The point is this—I still don’t know where I’m going or what I’m going to do with my life. But this feels like a start. This is my outlet. Some people paint. Some people sing. Some people exercise. I write. Anytime I feel like my head is going to explode, I take out my laptop or type notes in my phone. It is absolutely necessary to find something that makes you feel better. That makes you feel sane. That makes you feel like you didn’t just make the dumbest decision of your life.

I know that I didn’t. Even though I’m still stressed, broke, and getting judged by pretty much everyone I know, I know I will be okay. I know that in my heart, mind, and soul, I made the right decision for myself.

It’s okay to go against what people expect from you. If it’s not what you want, fuck them and their expectations.

Look at the world we live in, we have teenagers acting a fool on social media and gaining followers and income just off of that. We have a little boy that walked into a Walmart and yodeled his way into making more than I’ve probably made in my whole life. It is 2018, people. Anything can happen, just make it happen for yourself.