For about three years before I actually quit my 9-to-5 job I knew I wanted to. The commute was horrendous and I felt that my time was so much more valuable than sitting in Atlanta traffic. I was also wondering what my job was all about. The original reason I accepted the job was MIA as the company I worked for was always in transition and chaos.
I was in an emotional struggle about whether to quit my job
or not. The struggle went from month to week to daily. Once the struggle became
daily I knew that it would soon be over. The disdain for a job that was
seemingly going nowhere was becoming more frequent. My mind had left the job entirely and it was
just a matter of getting my body out of there.
Each time I felt that I was ready to make the move I would
tell myself that the time is not perfect or I need more money or I need certain
things. The final decision came after a trip to New York City with my son who
participated in a track meet. On the trip back I kept replaying the trip in my mind and just
holding on the feeling of joy and excitement I had about being able to watch my
son follow his dream.
I was reluctant to return to work the Monday following
the weekend trip. I was totally relaxed and knew that the job no longer fed me
in a way that was conducive to me being my best self. I
contemplated calling in sick or just quitting my job on the spot without a
notice. It took every ounce of my being to go back to work. I decided that I was done. I spent the next three days at work putting together my exit plan
and making notes for my successor. On Thursday, July 14, 2011, I
submitted a two weeks’ notice. I did not have a plan but I did know that I would be alright! I had an active direct sales business and the rest I would figure out.
What I do know after about 15 months of leaving my day job
and decompressing from all that is 9 to 5, is that I am more powerful than I
know. We are all more powerful than we know. The truth is waiting for the
perfect time or I need more are lies we tell ourselves because of fear. I
thought I would give up a lot to be free.
I was able to leave behind that old life and all the things, people and
issues that didn't satisfy me. I realize that all that stuff was to fill an
unknown void. Once we give ourselves permission to hear and live the truth we
set ourselves free of the ties that bind us to an unsatisfying life.
One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.
He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all."
"One is Evil – It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow,
regret, greed,
arrogance, self-pity, guilt,
resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride,
superiority, and ego"
"The other is Good – It is joy, peace, love, hope,
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,
empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute
and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence,
empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith."
The grandson thought about it for a minute
and then asked his grandfather:
"Which wolf wins?"
The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."
Peace and blessings,
Reece
