It’s just been a little over a year since I resigned.
I didn’t really think much about it--life kept me busy. But lately, my mind goes back to that moment. The one where I finally cut ties with that workplace I once thought I couldn’t survive without.
It was still vivid in my head when I said "I'll only leave when they ask me to". I gave that company a decade of my life. And in that time, I got sick several times. Stress crept into everything; my sleep, my health, even the way I showed up for my family. I brushed it off, because that’s what they drilled into our heads--keep pushing, be “grateful” for what we had, and ignore the cost. But somewhere along the way, I realized that my time, health, and the people I love should never have to come last.
The company made us believe we were one of the lucky ones to be there. They told us jobs like theirs were rare. That anything outside was unstable. And that if we left, we’d regret it. For years, I believed that. The fear of losing a "stable job" kept me in place.
But life has its way of nudging you. I had freelance voiceover gigs on the side, and even started picking up part-time jobs. Then it hit me: I wasn’t trapped. I had skills and options. The world wasn’t as closed-off as they made it seem.
When I finally resigned, there wasn’t one dramatic breaking point. It was quieter than that. I was just tired. Tired of everything, of staying small and giving so much of myself to a place that gave so little back.
So I left.
And nothing collapsed. The sky didn’t fall. If anything, the world felt bigger. And my days? Brighter.
It was scary at first. That was the only job that I've had and known the longest. Saying it was my "comfort zone" would be incorrect, though. No other jobs I've had could top how uncomfortable I was in that place.
But with every gig/project and every client, I realized I wasn’t just proving my old company wrong. I was proving to myself that I could stand on my own, like how I did ten years prior. That I could build a life where I could care for myself and my family without work getting in the way.
I didn't just walk away from a toxic job. I reclaimed peace and energy that I almost lost, made up for the stolen hours, and took the confidence back that I'd almost forgotten I had.
It’s been a year. And you know what? I've got no f*cking regrets. I had to learn the hard(est) way that health, peace, and loved ones always come first. No job is worth more than that.