Yesterday was my last day of work.
A month ago, on Dec 1, 2017, I submitted my resignation letter after nearly seven years. Over the course of that time, my life and truth-be-told, my personal identity had revolved around my work, my job function and working for a multinational company on the top Fortune-500 listing. In the very early days, I truly believed it was just my luck to find the job, and that I would never leave. Heck, my colleagues and mentors at work also told me on numerous occasions that I was a veteran that was never going to leave. I believed them.
Looking back today, I cannot say the reason I left was that I was being mistreated. In fact, I mostly enjoyed working with the people I worked with. In the early days, I did feel like I was connected to a purpose, bigger than myself. At that time I worked in recruiting, and we were very much in a growth era. I was actively involved in sourcing talents across all Anglophone and Francophone West Africa. Those were the glory days. We very quickly advanced to hitting the peak at the company, and my days were now spent navigating a crazy and irritating matrix; dealing with the bureaucracy that extended all the way to Headquarters, and even having to fire the same people I hired a number of years ago from the company. There was just no soul for me any longer. I was just coasting; going through the motions. Though on the outside, everything seemed fine, it took a health scare to force me to take a long, hard look at myself, and challenge myself to live out loud, and in colour.
So, I quit! I said goodbye to everything I knew and was comfortable with. Every single thing! As I lie here, writing up this post, though feeling very emotional, I know deep down that I did the right thing. Work for me is like that old friend you have grown apart from, but you are sad to walk away from because of all the memories you have with them; because of how your identity has been shaped by that friendship, especially when the relationship looks amazing on the surface. My tears flow freely now as any breaking away from the familiar is wont to cause.
The time has come to begin the next chapter of my life.
I am at Peace…
9 comments
Life is an adventure dear. I’m glad that you aren’t afraid to explore…to live.
Your path will shine brighter hun.
We are rooting for you!
Amen, Amen Lady Sharon. Thank you for stopping by. Please tell a friend, to tell another friend to keep reading.
I would like to read the next steps in the next posts…
Yes indeed. I would be happy to oblige you. There are many more posts on the blog, and more to come
I know this feeling so very well.
Having worked for one of Nigeria’s top financial services institutions; practically giving my blood for the implementation of an organic growth that it’s new owners had designed as a 10year strategic plan, l can relate with your story. For me, I virtually had no life……. spiritual, social or developmental. I was simply existing. And when l almost lost my life, returning back from work at 11pm on the Third Mainland Bridge in a ghastly auto crash, I knew it was time to say goodbye. Contrary to the popular R&B song titled “It’s so hard to say goodbye ” by Boys II Men, it was quite easy for me to bid goodbye to the only job l had known and which l have 10years of my adult life.
I left for the UK to start on a fresh slate thereafter and ironically l am set to once again begin a new chapter of my life.
Sorry that l’ve almost written a blog on your blog but this was something to touched me deeply. I’d be following your blog religiously.
Cheers!
Dear 9jabloke, thank you so much for your comments. I can tell they are deep from your heart. I’m also glad that my post resonates so well with you. My brother…or sister 🙂 I know the feeling so so well. It’s a scary place when your personal identity is tied around only one particular thing. We’ve got to keep reinventing ourselves. Thank you for staying glued here, and all the very best for the next phase in your life. You can write mini blog posts here anytime 🙂
To be honest I wish I can swap your former job with you. I have a job I am doing just because… But I also respect your ability to draw the lines.
You know what they say, ‘be careful what you wish for’
Being at peace with decisions we make is what matters at the end.
Looking around me, if I take that step, I will miss my colleagues but not my job.