A New Season

After twenty-two years with the same employer, I recently closed a chapter in my career. That chapter started just days after graduate school and contained the best years of my life, thus far. I was part of an in-demand, growing company and it was exciting. I am a “do-er” and I did all I could, until priorities changed and the sacrifices became more than I was willing to make. I have entered a new season because, like many others, I am now a statistic in “the Great Resignation.”

An article written in March 2022, estimated that 48 million people quit their jobs in 2021 and per the Willis Towers Watson’s 2022 Global Benefits Attitudes Survey, as of March 2022, 44% of employees are “job seekers” (1). It certainly was not an easy decision to dive into that data pool. If you are someone who is risk-averse, like I am, the idea of change into the unknown is highly unsettling. Finding one’s purpose in work is a great achievement, but finding stability and financial freedom can also be sufficiently motivating…at least it was for me…for two decades…until it wasn’t. Once my decision to leave was made, people began to ask me, “what will you do next?”

The answer: Anything I want!

For those of us with a strong sense of responsibility, the idea of reclining and eating bon-bons is only appealing for a moment, before we, once again, begin to throw ourselves into new tasks. Here is what I’m doing:

- Yardwork

- Fitness

- A mid-week beach day

- Catching up with friends

- Community volunteering

- Applying for jobs

- Reading

- Starting my own business (and signing my first contract)

- Spending more time with family

- Talking to other parents at kid events (instead of reading work emails)

- Helping our aging parents and neighbors

- Crossing items off the bucket list….because, life is short

Most of all, I am breathing deep breaths and praying deep prayers that I will continue to be focused on choosing to spend my time on things that are fulfilling and rewarding, especially if they are new and uncomfortable and will allow me to grow. My boundaries are my own and only I can establish them and learn to live a life of joy within them.

After a mere 3 weeks of unemployment, my teenage son observed, “You weren’t happy when you had too much work to do, but now it seems like you’re not happy because you don’t have enough work. Is that just how it is with women?” Yes, son. Yes. That’s exactly how it is, and I am so glad that I could be present to share this moment of clarity with you.

If you are also entering another season of life,

What will you do next?

(1) The Great Resignation continues, as 44% of workers look for a new job”. Greg Iacurci. March 22, 2022. https://www.cnbc.com/2022/03/22/great-resignation-continues-as-44percent-of-workers-seek-a-new-job.html