I will be working for my same company, but I demoted myself, took a hefty pay-cut, indirectly declared to all of my bosses that I'm not interested in climbing the corporate ladder, and am going to say goodbye to many friends at my current workplace because I want to sell cheese full time.
One of my dearest friends posted an article to Facebook called Free-Spirited Females with Fiercely Sensitive Hearts and it made me tear up. Granted, I cry at just about anything when I am in hormone overdrive, over-tired, under-fed, bored, or any combination of that list. But I cried for real this time...for legitimate reasons, not like that time I cried when Jim and Pam got married...
I cried because I realized that I was not where I wanted to be in my working life. I just happened to get there...I started working at a part time job at a company 9 years ago and just kept going without really looking around. I'm a competitive person so I have to give it my all and I have done so for 9 years. I found myself fiercely running fast without GPS. So I just ended up tired and lost.
I worked myself into a role where there were too many sacrifices for a job that wasn't fulfilling anymore...long hours away from home and husband. I was putting away dishes for the first time in weeks yesterday, and had to ask "where does the salad spinner go?" Coming home with all of my energy zapped from dealing with everyone else's problems, trying to coach mediocrity into greatness, seeing all the things that needed fixing when I or anyone else didn't have the time to fix them. I was sick of asking for help and not getting any, asking to participate in programs and seeing people say "thanks but no thanks" and knowing they are doing it all wrong. Wanting to do my job better, but knowing that it's not what they need, they just need someone who's good enough. No wonder I wasn't sleeping well and my throat felt like it was closing in all the time...
I adore cheese. It's a magical food that unites people with culture, land, animals, heritage. It's meant to be shared...whether it's an 80 lb wheel of Le Gruyere or a small goat crottin, cheese is a shared experience and is made better with friends and family (and I bet I could win over some enemies with a slice of Pleasant Ridge Reserve). Not only that, but it tastes good, really good, and it is nutritious with all that calcium, protein, and fatty acids. And if all that soap box goodness wasn't enough, it has tyrosine in it that makes you happy! It's literally nature's Zoloft!
So I'm on to my next adventure...I'm still in my current job for a few weeks, but I am excited about where I'm going and who I'll meet along the way. I know that I chose this new road myself and didn't just start walking on it because I didn't have anywhere else to go. I start my new job in early June and it's going to kick some serious ass. Stay tuned...and stay cheesy!