In 2008, I quit my corporate job, sold off everything I owned and moved overseas with my husband Drew. Since then we've traveled around the world, started our careers over as creative types and nurtured our love of sleeping in late. Oh and we had a baby. Cole, our almost 2 year old has been traveling since he was four months old and probably knows more Thai than me (not that he brags).
After You Quit Your Job
Hello. I would like to re-introduce myself. My name is Christine. I am a full-time writer and photographer. I used to work in corporate America, until I quit my job. Yesterday.
It is very nice to meet you.
Yesterday after I sent my blog post to the internets about my impending resignation, I called my boss and gave her the bad news (I was working from home in Boston, she lives out of state). She was completely professional about it and at the end of the call I said something a little strange. “Ok Thanks!” Yes, I thanked my boss after I quit. I practically chirped at her. I really was trying my best to sound serious and somber, but I betrayed myself. After I hung up, I said, “tee hee!” then I ran into the bedroom and jumped on the bed. And yes, I am a five year old.
Suddenly everything has changed.
I talked to my friend who had voiced some concerns about me quitting my job (“What if the economy changes…”) and she congratulated me. Seemingly the hour long lectures about my future are over.
My anxiety about quitting? Gone. Any fears about my choice? Washed away. For whatever token significance this act held, it hasn’t sent me into a free fall. The sensation is closer to being untethered, buoyant.
My husband offered to go out to dinner to celebrate and I finally fully realized our new state. No more paychecks are coming in. While I’ve been good at saving, suddenly I realized that I don’t have that financial flexibility to splurge. Belts are officially tightened.
Since there is no going back, guess it’s time to move forward.
Have you ever quit your job for uncertain waters? What was it like?
Dear Christine,
I stumbled upon your blog and I said to myself, Perfect!, I’m not the only one who quit their job and feel really happy about it. I’ve never been this happy and free. I told my boss that I will resign on 12 June (that’s the Philippine Independence Day) so at least, for me, alluding to, something monumental. I am temping in an office, doing the same proposals, photocopies, etc and it really made me miserable. I saw myself three years ago and it made me sad what the daily routines made me. It sucked the life out of me. I used to write poems, and prolific at that, and now, it takes me months to finish a single strophe, and after some wrestling with the muses,I end up throwing the whole thing. Without work, I can now write the whole day, and maybe finish a collection.
I wish you good luck on your plans of travel. Uncertainty is so exciting!
Cheers!
Michael
WOOOHOOOO!!! I’m SO happy for you; the leap is now official!
Go, Christine, go! And don’t look back!
Julies last blog post..Do You Roux?
Michael: Congrats and welcome. One of the best things I’ve found is connecting with other people who are either going through a similar thing or have already done it!
That’s awesome! I’m completely jealous. I hope to have guts to do the same in about a year. I need to save up some more cash before I do.
Chads last blog post..Have a Great Weekend!
Way to go! You did it! I’m so excited for you.
Hi Chad! Well the piece you don’t see here is that it took me a while to save up and get the nerve to do it too. I have no doubt that you’ll get there soon enough. Checking out your blog now… nice stuff!
Hi NP– Yay! Thanks!
Hi,
I quit my job last week also. I had transferred to Texas to work in one of our company offices and now really miss my family back east. I thought the job wss what I was about, its not and I am going forward and will look for another job.
Katie
Hi Christine,
Congrats on quitting! I also left my job after graduating from Boston University, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. Even though not having a steady income stream is sort of scary, living by the seat of my pants has a certain exhilaration. Oddly enough, being unable to spend so much is actually quite liberating, at least for me – it leaves me with more time to spend doing the things I really wanted to do.
Enjoy your travels!
Julie: Thanks! Yay!
Katie: Congrats on taking a stand on what you belief in!
Han: Thank you! And that’s a great point, the gift of time, nothing could be better…
I quit my corporate job last June. I felt like I was high, just floating on a worry free cloud, for at least a month. Once I started traveling, the anxieties of planning balanced me out again but for the 10 months I wasn’t working, I ate better, slept better, read more, and just felt healthier and happier. Truly cathartic.
Another point, I traveled all over Asia and the US (hiked the Appalachian Trail, became a snow bum in Utah, saw almost all of my old friends scattered around), and it was far less expensive than I thought would have been. Especially as a twenty four year old, with a low standard of living, a year of travel can be done for far less than most people expect.
I’m now working again but I’ve got my memories to sustain me as well as plans to do something similar in a few years. Let me just say, Congratulations and I think this will be the best thing you’ve ever done.
Congratulations! Feels great, doesn’t it? I quit my job in December to work full time on my websites but as I was already earning a bit of money I can’t say it was totally uncertain. I wasn’t really earning enough to live on at the time but have since boosted it to a liveable income. Yay!
It feels great knowing that I’ve managed (so far) to make a go of a business I started from scratch and can work from anywhere. I doubt you’ll find yourself looking back. Best of luck!
Congratulations, Christine! I quit a job back in 2000 and took 5 months off. Two of them were to travel through Europe, extensively, the other three were a mix of more local travel, spending time with friends, and more importantly, spending time with myself.
I’m so glad I ‘stumbled’ onto your blog… it is fantastic and very inspiring! I am starting my own blog about travel (still morphing into what it is going to really be) and hope that I too will be writing about the places I love on a more full-time basis.
Can’t wait to read all about Spain!
Wow… that’s so great Christine! I dream of the day I will finally do it!!! I just stumbled onto your blog and have not stopped reading! I’ve been wanting to get out of my job – an attorney at a large firm with a large salary – since at least the last 4 years!!! Only this year did I have an epiphany that I want to do what I’ve always wanted to do : take a break adn live overseas for at least 6 months, see what happens, see whether my life will be much happier. I keep thinking of how time flies and how I’ll regret it if I never try. Of course some of my friends and parents think I’m nuts to give up my career and a highly paid job… bu tthey dont get it! My only challenge now is HOW to find a way to earn a living while I’m gone. Or what activity to take up… But I’m determined, I’m quitting my job this year (before they push me out!)… make my year end bonus, and quit… How did you find your freelance jobs as a writer/photographer?
I quit my job 5 months ago. I loved my job but feared that I would face a layoff. I left another job that is considered a good job but, I do not like it. Now I am depressed and wish I could go back and undo things. Of course that is impossible because the company I left is struggling in the economy. This leads me to my question … How do I put the job I loved behind me and move on????
Excellent! I told my bosses 100 days ago (yes i’ve been counting) that I’m searching for a new job. 100 days later, no job, but they’ve kept me all along.
I plan to give in my notice as soon as I hear back from my other job interview. Tentative last day…Oct 22nd!
Upon that? Travel? Nope. More job hunting!
When you dread going to work and are late every single day, that’s a sign you need to quit.
Hi Chistine and everyone else :
I Quitt my job of 12 years sunday, I did not
feel like going back to the place where I
felt out of place, and miserable for the last year.
I read the comments and gives me inspiration,
and I know that I made the right decision.
Planning on doing things I miss to do photography, walks on the beach, reading,spending more time with my hubby, writing poetry, and cook, and going back to school for some lectures and stuff.
After leaving the “JOB”, I felt scared, and floating on the air, I jumped up and down, I had the biggest smile ever on my face. I chat with my brother, who gave me some ideas, and friends that support my decision. And today I woke up at 7:00 AM, I super slept 3 hours and I’m not looking back, not matter what!!!! Look forward, Im in my early 50′s but not scared, the sky is the limit!!!
M/
Hi Christine, I found your blog through a stream-of-consciousness Googling session about quitting your job right before I went ahead with it myself (good job with the SEO!) and I found a connection with your words. There is definitely something liberating about leaving the typical lifestyle whether you pursue travel or experiences closer to home. Like you, despite the initial naysaying, after I made the decision I found my friends and family rallied behind me. I’m glad to see that three years later, your adventures continue even with a little one by your side. Cheers to you and your family– May good things fill your life in the years to come!
Hi Christine, firt of all congrats to all and please congrat me too.
i can very well understand your feeling. I have resigned from my present job resently and serving my notice period. If you ask me waht was the reason, may be i wont be able to answer just one reason but so many.
i was fade up with my job and the politics, non recognition and so many other reason.
i was flying back after a maggiage and was really upset to go back. my husband suggested me to resigne and i took this desicion in few minutes. next day day i went to office and spoke to my boss(i didnt want to change my mind)and the moment i informed my boss, i started feeling better n better n better.
yes i too have lost the so called financial freedom, but you can always work on other savings.
Christine, trust me everything happens for a good reason and GOD has this plan for your betterment so cheers and wait and watch.
very nice , but can you suggest what type of earning can we do without obeying anyone