Be Happy in Your Job!

Lots of folks during a recession will say don’t quit your job even if you hate it.  I disagree!  I tried to work on a job that was the wrong fit for a three year period and I ended up seriously ill.  Even then well meaning family and friends said go back on the job you have your son to think about.  It was because I was thinking about my child that I made the decision to quit.  I would be no good to him if I was upset and sick.  I am not suggesting that a job has to be perfect but it should at the very least not be in conflict with your values and needs.  The golden glove grip is a bad place to be in when the money you are earning locks you in and forces you to stay.  I acknowledge I loss plenty materially by quitting my job.  I went from a five figure income to half my income and then half again.  I also had to file for bankruptcy when I did not find a job as quickly as I hoped.  I also lost friends who remain in the social work field who cannot handle hearing me say I don’t want to talk shop I have moved beyond that.  It is hard for some to see you as successful if you have lost your earning power and the direction of your life is unclear.  I knew as things fell away that trapped me into a job and lifestyle that I felt lighter and happier.  Life is short and to do something everyday that makes you miserable makes no sense to me.  I spent years working in the corporate sector in a variety of clerical jobs that made me unhappy and frustrated.  I fought to get out by training in night school and ironically when I achieved this goal I found myself in a worse situation.  So what is the answer?  I believe we need to be informed about what we are getting into and really know what we are doing before we make decisions.  If I had talked to a child protection worker before entering the social work field I would have gone a different direction.  Now I am older and wiser and I refuse to settle for anything.  Settling is disrespectful to ourselves and does not recognize our abilities or our dreams.  Many people are not comfortable hearing you talk about your dreams and they often advise you to do the practical thing.  Again I disagree.  I have 13 more years in the workforce and I want to make them count.  I want to wake up in the morning and to feel good about going to my job.  This is not unrealistic and it is necessary if I am to remain well.  I am heading off to school to pick up my son and I am happy that I put these sentiments into words for others to read.  It might help another person to give themselves permission to dare to be happy in the decisions they make in their lives.