What have you been doing for 9 months?
Posted by blissandvinegar on May 26, 2007
August 18th, 2006. My last day working in a high stress, technology management job. One day, I had it; I knew the time had come. And I know many can relate.
Luckily, unlike most, I was actually able to quit. My crazy, wonderful husband supported me 110%. And due to the Great Tax Day Blaze of 2005, wherein we lost many belongings thanks to a neurotic hairdryer, we had savings from our insurance settlement. Just enough to cover unpaid time for me to do all the things I wanted but couldn’t while dwelling in the stress of my job. Woo-hoo!
I planned to do them all. Write a book! Make cheese! Start a gourmet food company with some friends! Invent things! Create things! Read like a crazy woman! Organize every nook and cranny of my home!
That was over 9 months ago. Wow. Anyone else thinking about how time flies?
I did make cheese. Home-made ricotta. It’s actually pretty easy! And very good. Check out the book that supplied the techniques and the recipe.
Also, check out Leeners, a great company for supplies, whether you are making beer, wine, cheese, or bubble gum.
I did write a novel. It’s true! I’m a NaNoWriMo winner! Thanks to my writing teach (read her blog at http://planetpooks.wordpress.com), I found out about the National Novel Writing Month’s annual November contest challenging you to write a 50,000 word novel in one month. You’re supposed to turn off your inner editor, and just let the words fly! I knew midway through the month that my story was disjointed and crappy, but I plugged on. I wondered how people working 40 to 60 hours a week could succeed. It was fun and a bit painful, but I managed to meet the word count.
I worked on a gourmet food startup company with my good friends Deb and Beck. We are on hold for now. But one day, we will be the next Ben and Jerry. And Jerry.
There are also many things I didn’t do. One I regret, but only a little. I didn’t organize a damn thing. Nope. Kitchen cabinets still a mess. Girls’ rooms still filled with clothes that no longer fit. Garage overflowing with too many gardening tools.
Instead, I drove my bee-yoo-tiful stepdaughters to school every Monday morning and picked them up at dismissal each Monday afternoon. No after school care for them! (At least not on Mondays.) I made lovely meals for my family without having to start them after a harrying day at work. I ran errands during the week without the normal weekend hordes. And I cleaned my own toilets. Yup – talk about bringing one down to earth.
I have new perspective now. Even though I am now in the market looking for work, I will never go back to a job that stresses me every day and keeps me awake every night.
We all know that life is too short.
What would you do if you had 9 months with only your dreams to chase?
pooks said
You need to post your nano winner thing in your sidebar, so it’s always there!
Nine months with nothing but my dreams … wow, that’s a tough question, because actually I’d want to live somewhere else for that nine months. If I were smart I’d want to live in LA. But I’d rather live in the UK for nine months with nothing but my dreams, and I’d research a novel/write a novel, most likely about an expat from Texas who is following her dreams in England and gets in BIG trouble….
Michele Bernard said
I can so relate to your past nine months (giving up a high stress job) AND to finding new work on terms that work for you. I’ve experienced both and give both a hearty two thumbs up. Best of luck as you continue to discover what works for you.
To answer your question: For the past nine months I’ve been in learning mode. I’ve been learning how to write a novel, how to grow a freelance business, how to sit with myself as company for more hours per day than I’ve ever had to before, and how to balance all the above with wifing, parenting, caring for an ailing relative and for the first time in my life, homemaking. The homemaking ball gets dropped on a fairly regular basis, and I get a little stir crazy after three days of sitting still, but other than that, it’s been an educational, full nine months. Peace, M:)
Cindy said
I left a high stress job, unfortunately not by choice. The place went bankrupt and closed. I lost my job. I had lots of time to do things I needed to do as I was using the unemployment compensation to get by. I wanted a break so I didn’t job search right away. Did I clean my closets – no. Did I clean my toilets – no. Did I write the great american novel – no. I didn’t do anything I was “going to do”. Maybe it was the type of change. You wanted out and left. I wanted out and was booted – sort of. That was 13 years ago. I got another job, in fact 2 since that time. It looks like I may be changing positions this fall again, due to something beyond my contol. Ya know what. My closets still haven’t been cleaned, and the other cleaning, well, let’s leave THAT question alone. Martha Stewart I’m NOT. I admire you. Way to go. I hope you continue to be successful.