Following your heart

I have had a well paid FT job that I hate for the last 4 years. I work in healthcare, which is a very changeable environment because it's state funded so is always reorganising. I worked in the private sector since 2009. Much of what I do is pointless, makes no difference and doesn't benefit patients or staff. I have questioned what I do for a long time. We have had 6 managers in 3 years and turnover is high. I work with pharmaceuticals and have questioned the ethics of what I do deep down. But never been brave enough to do anything. I need a job, to pay bills, yada yada yada.

I resigned last week and have not felt better for years. The RELIEF. I can't describe it. I don't have a job to go to, but several good options, as well as running my own business, which I've done before and been OK at. I don't care about money now. I'd rather be poor and happy than rich and sad. And do something completely different, like work on the land or with animals, than work I feel is wrong in my heart. I feel so liberated and not in the least bit scared. I have savings I can live on and no debt and am a middle aged woman with no dependent apart from being my mother's carer. I never thought I would be one of those people that just give everything up to follow their dream or their heart, but I just have. Even if I'm still working out what that is.

Wish me well? Maybe even say a little prayer for me? Thank you.

I wish you the best of luck! Have some fun with it! Follow your heart and curiosity. I had a coworker that quit her high stress finance job to open a bakery shop. I admire and envy you.

Little Cat !!!

I'm really happy for you, Little Cat! I hope you'll find your work happiness soon.

I just put my resignation in today. I'm only scared about finding the right medical insurance because I'm on a good plan right now. To expensive for COBRA though. So, here's wishing for the best for us both!

Congrats! I did something similar five years ago and can't imagine ever going back. I still don't really know what I want to do, but not working full time in a job you hate is wonderful. I hope it works out for you. Enjoy your freedom!

Another who resigned a soul destroying job recently. I also am trying to start up my own business turning a hobby into something more.

Best of luck, I hope it works out!!

So, I have a week left, and I got a call earlier this week. Full time contract work until next year in a beautiful location near where I live, working with people I used to know and be friends with, doing something to improve the health of my local community. It's so wonderful I can hardly believe it. It's far more than I ever dreamt or hoped for. There is a God. Thank you all for your kind words and prayers!

Sigh. Update. So, I was driving back from the DHL depot where I'd packed my parcels to return (laptop, phone, printer etc) and I got a call from the guy who offered me contract work to say sorry but he'd just found out that the post had been given to someone else. He said he'd ring me later next week (not holding my breath for that one). Then I rang my current employer to ask if I could rescind my resignation and after a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, they said no, because the new CEO was going to make some changes anyway (read redundancies) and I guess they were pleased at not having to pay me off. On top of it all, they cancelled my leaving do because something urgent happened, so everyone had to go somewhere else. Which all feels really sh!tty. In one way, I'm pleased to have left because it's like that all the time, people being treated badly, but the money was useful and I will miss working from home and some colleagues. I don't know what I will do next but I am tired. I've just scanned some ads and there's plenty out there but I feel like I need some time out to think. I don't want to loose that feeling of freedom and happiness that it had until recently, just because of a short term panic. Once I calm down, no doubt I'll settle on a plan, but I just wanted to post here and vent. We can never presume to know the mind of God, and I'm sure He will look after me. I think I'm going to go for a swim and a sauna and a sunbed tomorrow, change how I feel physically. Thanks for listening.

I read up on the things going on with you! I must say that I admire you and just keep going! Certainly you sound grounded and willing to go with the flow...all good things when starting down a new road! With that said, I'm sort of doing the same thing in my life. I work part-time but long for something more and the ability to contribute to my community and to the people in it! I'll be reading updates on your situation. Hugs, Cat

God I envy you. I work in gambling industry - high management position (CTO) with huge pay (relative to my country) but I hate every bit of my work - what we do, why we do it, how we do it. In addition to that stress is unbearable. I have some savings but that could last a year or two. I have wife and two kids and my wife begged me, in tears, not to quit... So I stayed.....

I whish you all the luck. I whish I had the guts like you.

The only reason I could do what I did is because I'm not married, don't have kids and own my house. The only responsibility I have is to care for my mother. I've been careful with money so I know I will be OK for a while, and I'm already cutting back and being more sensible financially. I got paid a lot too, and no doubt I'll have a shock at the end of the month when nothing more gets added to my bank account, but I just FEEL so much better. I've had moments of guilt - could I have made it work, are there things I could have done - but it was still a job my heart wasn't in. I can almost hear my father say that this heart was never in his job but he did it for 40 years because it was his role to be a provider, but I can't live like that. So I've done several vision boards, one for me (stuff I like doing, to make sure I don't go crazy and spend all my time working), unpaid volunteer type things, part time paid work (like being a trustee and a non exec director as well as writing for money) and then interim/ consultancy. I hope I get a good mix going. Might branch out into something new as well as healthcare. The UK will be a mess for years now due to BREXIT, so everywhere will be full of change. I have a lot more luck than many other people in this situation, so I just need to reach out and be brave. Thanks for all the comments, it's been very helpful.

Aw, I'm sorry that contract gig fell through - I was really excited for you on page 1 and sad to see it wasn't going to happen on page 2. I hope you get another offer like that!

Things seem to move fast for some reason, especially since I'd kind of decided to take some time out over the summer and do things I've put off for ages, like landscaping. So the latest is, I've got my first piece of consultancy, not long but it'll do for this month, and two interviews, one for a trustee job doing some environmental work on a farm, and another for a NED job. I only got them by responding to people who contacted me to ask how I was doing, so just through my friendships. Amazing. I never thought anyone would really care. And it's not like I've really been hunting down work. It's really restored my faith in human nature. And I'm booking myself on a course later this month, so it'll be a nice mix of different things. Still feels weird but not in a bad way. Got my business cards printed. Will see how it goes, but thanks everyone for listening and your support.