I Quit My Job: Starting a New Chapter
/"I've decided to leave the company."
That's what I announced to my manager four days ago. That's right, I am leaving my day job! I gave my 5 weeks notice, following through with a decision I recently made to leave the desk job I'd been at for a little over 5 years.
A job where I made life-long friendships. A job that encouraged its employees to workout during the day. A job that promoted healthy lifestyles. A job that I never dreaded going to every morning.
["Um, you're crazy, Emily. Your job sounds pretty awesome..."]
It was...for a while, at least. But recently I realized that I was no longer feeling nourished or satisfied by where I was and what I was doing for 8+ hours every day. I wanted something more. I wanted to do something else in this one precious life that I'd been given.
It's time.
It's time for a change. Time to learn something different and grow. Time to do something else that allows me to interact with people more. Time to be a part of something that better aligns with my passions, namely helping others make sustainable lifestyle changes primarily by adopting a healthier, cleaner way of eating.
Time to follow my heart and listen to my gut.
Neither has ever steered me wrong.
I think back to 2005 when I moved from New York to San Diego...just because. The people who mattered the most to me were 100% supportive of my decision. Those who didn't know me very well couldn't understand why I chose to move 3,000 miles from my family and I couldn't help but notice a slight hint of judgment across their faces (I swear, I wasn't imagining it!) Apparently "because of the warm weather" wasn't a satisfactory response to the question "But...why?" As I drove away and saw my parents in my rearview mirror waving goodbye, I wasn't scared. It felt surreal at first, but fear never even entered the picture. Instead, I was excited because the decision felt so right to me.
And you know what? Looking back I wouldn't change a thing. The last 6 1/2 years have been amazing and I can honestly say that moving to San Diego was one of the best decisions I've made in my life thus far. The heart and the gut don't lie.
So now, I find myself in a similar situation. I don't know exactly where I'll be or what I'll be doing, but I'm not scared. It feels too right for me to be scared. I have some ideas and some leads and am excited to open myself up to the opportunities that present themselves. In the meantime, I'm thrilled to devote more time to further develop Embrace True Health and to spend more time in the kitchen creating culinary masterpieces that are both healthy and tasty for you to enjoy :)
5 MOST COMMON REGRETS OF THE DYING
A few weeks ago, I posted an article on my Facebook page about the 5 most common regrets of the dying. It's an excellent read that I encourage you to check out, if you haven't already. A couple points really stood out to me in their relevance to my big decision.
This was the first one:
1. I wish I'd had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.
This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to choices they had made, or not made.
It is very important to try and honour at least some of your dreams along the way. From the moment that you lose your health, it is too late. Health brings a freedom very few realise, until they no longer have it.
And this was the last one:
5. I wish that I had let myself be happier.
This is a surprisingly common one. Many did not realise until the end that happiness is a choice. They had stayed stuck in old patterns and habits. The so-called 'comfort' of familiarity overflowed into their emotions, as well as their physical lives. Fear of change had them pretending to others, and to their selves, that they were content. When deep within, they longed to laugh properly and have silliness in their life again.
When you are on your deathbed, what others think of you is a long way from your mind. How wonderful to be able to let go and smile again, long before you are dying.
Powerful stuff, right?
Also during the decision-making process, I couldn't help but relate to these lines from some of my favorite country songs :)
"Something More" by Sugarland
There's gotta be something more Gotta be more than this I need a little less hard time I need a little more bliss I'm gonna take my chances Taking a chance I might Find what I'm looking for There's gotta be something more
"Something's Gotta Give" by Leann Rimes
Something's gotta give me butterflies Something's gotta make me feel alive Something's gotta give me dreams at night Something's gotta make me feel alright I don't know where it is But something's gotta give
"While You're Still Young" by Montgomery Gentry
Life is too short to put it off anymore You gotta live it before, it's too late Can't turn that clock back around On what your dreamin about You better do it now don't wait
I actually listened to this last song in the car on my way to work every day for the last few months. It really spoke to me and reminded me of how short and precious our life is and how we have the ability to do with it what we like.
Lastly, I remembered the wise words of Joshua Rosenthal (the man who founded the Institute for Integrative Nutrition) from one of his lectures during my health coaching training. I will never forget it.
Either find a job you love or find a way to love the job that you have.
I'm ready. Let's do this!