stop the presses! i quit!

I turned in my notice today. It was a bittersweet experience. I realized a long time ago that this job just wasn’t the job for me. I wasn’t inspired. I didn’t look forward to my job on a daily basis. I did a lot of time-consuming grunt work. But the worst part about my job is that I am stuck at a desk surrounded by 4 walls all day while there is an HIV/AIDS crisis in DC.

I wanted to be out. I wanted to help. I wanted to fuel my passion for this cause. I wanted to be a part of the fight.

And now I am. On Friday I was hired to manage an HIV/AIDS outreach program for a major DC non-profit. I’ve been on cloud 9 all weekend.

Last night, I wrote my resignation letter. This morning, I stuck the letter in my bag and walked out the door. Despite the gloominess outdoors and the rain that made my morning hair straightening process a waste of time, I had a spring in my step. I stepped into the office and I was glowing. I didn’t know I was until someone asked me if I was pregnant. Ummm, no, I replied. Well, you’re glowing, he said. I didn’t know that, I told him.

But I certainly did feel it.

I cannot wait to start my job. Getting to this point in my life has been 5 years in the making. I cannot wait to start making a difference.

Last Wednesday, when the job offer was still in doubt, I talked to my shrink about it. Dr. W was completely informed about my job search. She knew how hard I had been looking. She knew about that 7 part interview with a potential employer who ended up picking someone else (yes, 7 different interviews). She knew about every previous rejection. She knew what kind of job I was looking for and why it would make me happy to finally find that job.

I asked Dr. W what I thought were rhetorical questions, “Is it too much to ask for a job that you look forward to every day? Is it too much to ask for a job that inspires you and motivates you and pushes you? Is it too much to ask for a job that you’re passionate about? All I want to do is help people.”

With all the wisdom of her (old) age and the experience of someone who knows exactly what I’m talking about, Dr. W quietly said, “No, it’s not too much to ask.”

I’m really glad I never stopped asking.