Big, Deep Breath

Paging Gwen Stefani circa 2005 - life just got B-A-N-A-N-A-S. In a totally good way, but, still, bananas.

Disclaimer: After writing this post, I realize it is completely incoherent and jumbled, but it goes along with the idea that everything is bananas, so I am keeping it that way!

Probably best to not keep you all in suspense, and just rip off the bandaid:

I quit my job last night.

Well, I handed in my two week's notice, so my last day will be Monday, February 24th. It feels...surreal. Like, is this really happening? I guess I should back up a bit more by saying that I handed in my two week's notice and I do not have a new full-time job lined up. Guess we need to back up a bit further, huh? Alright, let's go.

If you know me, you know that I have a myriad of experience doing things that I did not study in college: Marketing, Advertising, Copywriting, Social Media Management, Editorial Work, Sales, Recruiting, even Teaching Preschool (my degrees are in Psychology and French, by the way).  I have really loved some things, and also really not loved some things (read: I taught preschool for 4 months), but I have also learned a lot about myself along the way. For instance, I am not really aggressive enough to be a true salesperson. Luckily, my most recent job wasn't "true" sales - it was actually a lot more consulting and marketing, so I was successful, and I enjoyed it a great deal.

You may be wondering, "Well, why did you quit a job that you enjoyed and were successful at?". While I did enjoy this job (and had an amazing boss and some great teammates), there were aspects that did not align with bigger goals in mine and Harris' lives, mainly the fact that I traveled about every other week last year. Guys, I really, really like my husband. Like, a lot. And I really, really hated having to leave him so often. I know this works for a lot of people, mad props to y'all!, but it just didn't work for me, or us. In addition to that, I felt a pull to get back into other arenas that I am really passionate about.

So, about 6 months ago or so, I started really looking at options for development within my current company with those two goals in mind. The one hindrance I had was that my company is headquartered in Texas, and we live in Virginia. I was still able to take on some special projects with our Corporate Communications group doing some editorial work for various publications and online sites. Getting back into that really reminded me how much I love writing! When I was a Marketing Manager for 30-some odd accounts, my absolute favorite days were the days spent in a coffeehouse churning out blogs, articles, press releases, and so on. At any rate, these special projects planted a seed within me - a hope of possibility for what I could do as a writer, the passion for that, what that would mean for our day to day lives. That hope grew and grew, until, finally, I leapt.

The leaping involved initiating contact with an agency to become a freelance writer - they will help me find assignments and work, and I will have the freedom and flexibility to write about many different topics, industries, what have you. In two weeks, my official job title will be Writer. I am a Writer. I get to do something I love, and get paid to do it. How freaking cool is that?!

In all reality, this does not feel entirely real at all, but I am so excited, and feel such a sense of...relief. Relief to know that this coming year shouldn't be fraught with airports and chasing a Diamond status at Hilton, and becoming a National Executive member by July. Relief to know that we are taking steps to have an even more fulfilling life and marriage. Relief to be doing something I love. Big Deep Breath...of contentment.