sometimes, quitters do prosper

Hi reader-

A couple months ago I quit my big tech job after over a decade in the industry. To an outsider’s perspective, I’m sure it seemed like I had it made in the shade; fully remote, well paid, short hours. But inside, my soul had been dying a slow death for years.

Don’t get me wrong, I met some of the kindest, smartest, and my most favorite people in this world at my jobs. It was always these people who kept me going, who inspired me to want to work hard, to lift others up, to build a culture I thought we all deserved. And in a lot of cases, these trauma bonds became true friendships.

But I also watched many of these incredible people suffer from the same toxic effects of overhead gaslighting. These effects being depression, anxiety, strain on relationships, and in many cases physical illness to the point where the body just said “stahp”.

It took me months of chronic abdominal pain to quit my first job in tech. I thought I had appendicitis or an ulcer, but it turned out to just be my emotionally abusive boss and working 18 hour days. When I moved on to the next company, it was like I had found paradise. The culture couldn’t have been more different, but over the years I saw it deteriorate along with my mental health. The signs it was time to leave my last company were more subtle, but prolonged, so it took many years to build up the courage to leave.

When I finally did leave, I coupled it with another big transition of moving back to my home state of Arizona. Both changes gave me the space to reconnect with myself and my family. I’m embracing this homecoming and newfound freedom by pouring myself back into creative endeavors and being more present in my life.

I hope my journey will give others the hope and courage they might need to make that big leap for themselves. Trust in yourself, this life is too magical to waste being unhappy.

More to come..

Love,

em