New Journey: Day 1
Today is the beginning of a new journey, because yesterday I turned in my badge after nearly 23 years at the only company I’ve ever worked for. But I like to think of it more as a retirement than quitting. My parents raised me with the values of not quitting on something that you start, and they always made me finish out the season once it began. Well yesterday my season ended with a corporate giant, just a month shy of my 23rd anniversary. In a way it does feel like quitting, but I think after almost 23 years I can respectfully say that I did not give up or quit, and that I’m leaving to pursue new passions. A portion of those passions mean taking a mid-life retirement to do some traveling, volunteering, and anything else that is of interest to me during this transition.
We all dream of the day that we can retire and spend our free time doing the things that we love. But in life, we are not guaranteed tomorrow, nor are we guaranteed another 20 years. So, I’m choosing to enjoy a temporary retirement while I’m still young enough to do so. For about 8 years, I had talked about “someday” leaving my job to travel the world. I finally realized that my “someday” was here, and it was time to make the move. But the decision has come with a lot of mixed emotions. Sadness for leaving my friends at work, anxiousness for hoping I’m making the right decision, and excitement for the next step in my journey.
So today is the beginning of a new routine, and my new normal. A routine where I get to wake up and ask myself “what do I want to do today?”. I’m not sure where this journey will lead me, which is why I’m writing this today. I can’t wait to look back on it in a year and see all the joy in my life from this new journey, and to see what doors of opportunity have been opened. It’s time to choose joy, and spread it to others along the journey!