Not Alone

Apparently I'm not the trendsetter I thought I was...

http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/109636/more-workers-start-to-quit?mod=career-worklife_balance

There seems to be a recent movement of people quitting their jobs to pursue something else. I was watching a daytime talk show the other day (no, I don't watch tv all day, I promise!) and the topic of discussion was the idea of people quitting their jobs due to lack of fulfillment. The question came up, is this a generational idea? It seems to be. I've never heard my grandparents or even my parents say they were leaving a job because they weren't feeling fulfilled.

So what is it that fulfills us? What happens if we don't find it? Why do believe we need to find fulfillment in our jobs?

What are your thoughts?

One Week In

It's been one week and here's what I've done:

1. Bathroom has been scrubbed floor to ceiling - soap scum is gone!!!

2. Bedroom closet is organized & with a bit more room - bags of clothes ready for Salvation Army

3. Went to a Farmer's Market



4. Purchased my personal health insurance. And that's not cheap! Didn't realize what a good deal I had with employer-sponsored insurance.

5. Had two massage therapy appointments. Completely covered by insurance. See #4 above. Going to miss that perk I won't get with my new insurance!

6. Made & mailed out some cards



7. Created a budget

8. Ate out only once. In my working days, I would go out for lunch every day & out for dinner at least two times a week. At the end of this week, I still had cash in my wallet!!

9. Received an Etsy order!

10. Got my hair cut

11. Contemplated whether or not to apply to this year's Chicago Renegrade Craft Fair

12. Worked on last-minute things for my sister's bridal shower



13. Spent a rainy afternoon in the bookstore with a cup of coffee while skimming several books

14. Confirmed that going to the grocery store hungry & without a list is downright dangerous, no matter how much will-power I may think I have

15. Finished off a box of chocolates



16. Had a dream nightmare that I went back to work at my old job because I was bored

Hope you all had a great week!

I'm Living In My Pajamas

Today, I didn't have to wake up to an alarm. I won't have to stand in front of my closet wondering what to wear. No longer will I have to pack my breakfast or lunch before I rush out the door. I won't be part of the morning hustle & bustle at the bus stop. And best of all, I don't have to sit at a desk, working a job I don't love.

But why quit now, in such a hard economic time? Why quit without having another job waiting? What are you going to do?

These are all questions I have answered numerous times in the past several weeks. So let me give some background.

Perhaps the timing of this doesn't make the most sense economically. But this wasn't a rash decision. I didn't wake up 4 weeks ago and decide it would be the day I would quit my job. It's something I've considered, prepared for & wrestled through for quite some time.

Also, I know myself & know that I can say I'm going to change careers and do something new and different. But as long as I am in a job that is comfortable and stable (no matter how much I don't love it), I will never push myself to move on. So I felt the best thing for me was to quit & to focus my time and energy on what it is I want to do.

When I tell people I'm quitting my job & don't have another one lined up, sometimes I am asked "so are you going to stay in your pajamas all day?" No, I don't plan to spend every day in my pjs eating bon bons. (But oh, that sounds wonderful, doesn't it?)

So what am I going to do with myself? That's the million dollar question. And the answer is, I'm not exactly sure. I do know I want to do something that allows me to use my creative talent. I've been trying to sell some things through my Etsy page. But sales have been slow and & I want to try to develop that more. I have no illusions that I will be able to support myself 100% through that. But I want to see how far I can take it. I think I would enjoy working for a company that sells paper and other goods which give people an opportunity to be creative.

As you can see, I don't know where this road will lead me. But I'm excited to take the journey. And so grateful for the opportunity to it.

So, I'm inviting you to join me. Follow me as I discover the unknown world of living in my pajamas!

A New Beginning

I have entered a new beginning...

After working for ten and half years in the financial industry, today is the last day of my old career. Tomorrow I no longer have a conventional job, and I couldn't be more thrilled!