At 35, I realized after 10 years of successful non-profit career advancement I needed to make some changes.
I needed to live in a place that met my needs for activities, social, and family. I needed to take some time to focus on wellness. I needed to explore working, as important, but with other things also being important. This was an incredibly difficult and uncomfortable decision. It felt like jumping off a cliff. I was fortunate to have a spouse that fully emotionally stood by me during this process and, that I have been able to build savings to give me the time that I needed.
When I realized that the system that I have loved is not the system that I need for this next part of my journey happened in what has been the most complicated year of my life in the USA. You will see reference to some, but far from all, of the major defining events going on during this metaphorical jumping off a cliff.
The first 30 days after I left my job, I knew would move by quickly and I wanted to be sure to capture at least one item that I did each day.
Overarching goals during this time:
- Pay close attention to all doctor appointments/ instructions - I have put these off for too long and want to change that habit
- Exercise, stretch and possibly yoga
- Improve my Excel skills
- Read a few books
- Move to Washington
- Begin job hunting
- Connect with more of my friends/ family within social distance guidelines
Day 1
Cleaning
Day 2
Netflix
Day 3
Packed
Day 4
Doctors appointment
Day 5
Flew to Seattle
Explored Lacey Washington
Day 6
Job searching
Day 7
Met with the property manager for the new apartment
Hiked Green Mountain with my brother
Day 8
Lazy socially distance AM breakfast with friends in Seattle
Flew back to Texas
Day 9
Outdoor brunch with friends who flew in from Dallas
Day 10
Packed
Day 11
Protested the murder of George Floyd
Went to San Antonio to say goodbye (no hugs 😞) to family/ pick up some yard art
Day 12
Went through two boxes of childhood memorabilia and reduced them to one box
Day 13
COVID 19 test
Finished book, "Stay Alive my Son"
Day 14
Kahn Academy - Excel
Day 15
Hair Cut (Texas is open at the moment)
Started book "Bright Flows the River"
Day 16
Phone calls with family
Day 17
Day surgery (remember those doctors appointments that I have put off)
Day 18
Recovery day
Listening to The Andromeda Strain on Audible
Day 19
Second recovery day
Started the process of address changes for the move
Day 20
Addresses changes done
Finished Andromeda strain
Day 21
Gave all of our remaining food to some in-town family and said goodbye from 6 feet apart with masks on (so unnatural)
Begun listening to the Audible "Deep"
Day 22
Movers loaded up all of our townhouse and we cleaned
Did a test run through for a volunteer award that I am presenting this week via video call (Teams)
Day 23
A post-operation check-up with the doctor, things look good!
Got on an airplane and moved to Seattle
Day 24
Our car arrived
Moved into our new apartment (unaccompanied by our stuff that is still in the truck on the way to WA)
Purchased patio furniture from a locally owned patio store
Took some time to walk around our neighborhood
Day 25
Returned the rental car
Picked up our Target order, we now have Lysol spray, hand soap and; hand sanitizer back in our life :)
Day 26
Did an 11mile hike with a friend at Wallace Dallas state park
Day 27
Called family to reconnect
Hiked St. Edward's state park with Ian
Day 28
Had an attempted social distance coffee and park visit with a friend and her 3 years old, three-year-olds don't understand social distance :)
Day 29
On a whim decided to ride the ferries over to Port Angles. Had outdoor lunch with a friend and then hiked in the Olympic national park.
Day 30
Kept the Olympic national park tour going with a hike along the beach before visiting our cat who is staying with my Brother until I am more moved in.
I needed to live in a place that met my needs for activities, social, and family. I needed to take some time to focus on wellness. I needed to explore working, as important, but with other things also being important. This was an incredibly difficult and uncomfortable decision. It felt like jumping off a cliff. I was fortunate to have a spouse that fully emotionally stood by me during this process and, that I have been able to build savings to give me the time that I needed.
When I realized that the system that I have loved is not the system that I need for this next part of my journey happened in what has been the most complicated year of my life in the USA. You will see reference to some, but far from all, of the major defining events going on during this metaphorical jumping off a cliff.
The first 30 days after I left my job, I knew would move by quickly and I wanted to be sure to capture at least one item that I did each day.
Overarching goals during this time:
- Pay close attention to all doctor appointments/ instructions - I have put these off for too long and want to change that habit
- Exercise, stretch and possibly yoga
- Improve my Excel skills
- Read a few books
- Move to Washington
- Begin job hunting
- Connect with more of my friends/ family within social distance guidelines
Day 1
Cleaning
Day 2
Netflix
Day 3
Packed
Day 4
Doctors appointment
Day 5
Flew to Seattle
Explored Lacey Washington
Day 6
Job searching
Day 7
Met with the property manager for the new apartment
Hiked Green Mountain with my brother
Day 8
Lazy socially distance AM breakfast with friends in Seattle
Flew back to Texas
Day 9
Outdoor brunch with friends who flew in from Dallas
Day 10
Packed
Day 11
Protested the murder of George Floyd
Went to San Antonio to say goodbye (no hugs 😞) to family/ pick up some yard art
Day 12
Went through two boxes of childhood memorabilia and reduced them to one box
Day 13
COVID 19 test
Finished book, "Stay Alive my Son"
Day 14
Kahn Academy - Excel
Day 15
Hair Cut (Texas is open at the moment)
Started book "Bright Flows the River"
Day 16
Phone calls with family
Day 17
Day surgery (remember those doctors appointments that I have put off)
Day 18
Recovery day
Listening to The Andromeda Strain on Audible
Day 19
Second recovery day
Started the process of address changes for the move
Day 20
Addresses changes done
Finished Andromeda strain
Day 21
Gave all of our remaining food to some in-town family and said goodbye from 6 feet apart with masks on (so unnatural)
Begun listening to the Audible "Deep"
Day 22
Movers loaded up all of our townhouse and we cleaned
Did a test run through for a volunteer award that I am presenting this week via video call (Teams)
Day 23
A post-operation check-up with the doctor, things look good!
Got on an airplane and moved to Seattle
Day 24
Our car arrived
Moved into our new apartment (unaccompanied by our stuff that is still in the truck on the way to WA)
Purchased patio furniture from a locally owned patio store
Took some time to walk around our neighborhood
Day 25
Returned the rental car
Picked up our Target order, we now have Lysol spray, hand soap and; hand sanitizer back in our life :)
Day 26
Did an 11mile hike with a friend at Wallace Dallas state park
Day 27
Called family to reconnect
Hiked St. Edward's state park with Ian
Day 28
Had an attempted social distance coffee and park visit with a friend and her 3 years old, three-year-olds don't understand social distance :)
Day 29
On a whim decided to ride the ferries over to Port Angles. Had outdoor lunch with a friend and then hiked in the Olympic national park.
Day 30
Kept the Olympic national park tour going with a hike along the beach before visiting our cat who is staying with my Brother until I am more moved in.
