Reminiscing 2 years ago this period where I handed in my resignation letter in the most reluctant mood ever.
I was totally immersed in my career, peak of my time, enjoying my work and what it brings me – the satisfaction, the achievements, the recognition and of course, the great pay and benefits that come along with the job. I left my role, knowing that I have a greater role in life to fulfil and it is time to achieve what I want personally. I may be successful in my career but it comes with a price. A price that I have paid dearly with missed birthdays, lost friendships and derailed relationships.
As much as I missed working at my previous job and company, I have now come to see the consequences of my actions then. In the short period of 2 years, I have overcome personal hurdles and accomplish more than I wish for. I became a Mrs, relocated to a new country, founded MiddleMe, a top freelancer in my field, completed a few online courses and a mommy to 3 adorable cats and a lil princess.
Someone did ask me once if I regret giving up a cushy career at the world’s number 1 company. I will be dishonest if I don’t admit that I do look back at those office memories and sigh every once in a while. And of course, having financial freedom. But those once in a while moments seems to appear lesser and lesser as I forge through more milestones of my own. I was determined to make my resignation worth it and I am proud to say I have done it.
If I haven’t left my job in Shanghai, I wouldn’t learn so much about myself in the past 2 years:
- I can be extremely self-disciplined and be as productive at home as a freelancer as I am as a manager at work.
- I didn’t know I can write posts that people would actually read, leave encouraging comments and follow MiddleMe (for the record, I have ex-colleagues, ex-bosses and friends exclaimed their amazement that I can write).
- I can be super patient. Being in Malaysia taught me to be patient with the authorities and their whatnot regulations aka red tape. Being a Mrs, having a looooong fuse is one of the vital keys to making a marriage work. Being a mommy, midnight feedings and unexplainable wailings stretch my patience even more (still stretching… she’ll be teething soon… urgh!)
- I am really integrated with work mindset, not in a good way. Can you imagine that I still wake up in the mornings in a panic that I am late for work, only to realise that I have not been holding a 9-to-5 job anymore..for 2 years? And yes, I still do get Monday Blues…
- 2 years away but I still stay on top of my game. I stay relevant by taking courses, reading trending management articles and keeping tabs on my ex-colleagues. I network like crazy, even much more than the previous years. I made my friends closer and my enemies my friends.
These two years I am extremely grateful and appreciative that I am able to build a great freelancing reputation and a great readership in MiddleMe, an achievement that I didn’t expect I can do it within a span of two years. I don’t know what’s to come in the next 2 years but I do know it will be epic and fulfilling as usual because I won’t have my todays not as amazing as my yesterdays and as awesome as my tomorrows.
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MiddleMe 
O my precious lil Kally, so ever glad we cross paths! Your next two years shall be a bliss. I am busy initiating a new organization.unlike any other organization ever founded before. It is not yet on line but it will be soon. I will email you the Sacred Proposal I am finalizing today. Hopefully I will post it today in http://www.thia-basilia.com/. Check me out in case I don’t have time to email you. Time, O time! No worries though. It all comes in due time! Keep in touch. Much love, thiaBasilia. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Thia!! I will go and check it out today! Bless your soul and much love. Take care and don’t work too hard, my dear.
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That is great to read and an encouragement to many thinking about changing!
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Thanks very much! Change is hard but not impossible.
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Very inspiring !
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Thank you, Dave!
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I’m proud of you kally when they ask you who tell them the daywalker said so
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Thanks James!! Have an awesome week!
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:o)
I still have nightmares of forgetting to punch my time card all week, and it’s been 4 decades since I’ve even seen one.
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Hahahaha! So I’m not alone and I’m not crazy! Kept thinking something is wrong with me to keep waking up in a panic.
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While you chose writing, in my case writing chose me. I never thought I would write. Everything just happened and I took my chances. Here I am almost 8 years into this career. I do sometimes feel that my friends have better options and facilities which I don’t enjoy. However, I feel happy to see I’m no one’s slave. When you live life on your own terms you gotta pay some price as well.
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Well, to each his own. As long as you are happy and contented, you don’t have to follow the path and choices of others. It’s your life, make your own bed.
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I am so happy for you. Your courage has been rewarded. I asked God if I could have a job that used my strengths instead of my weaknesses and he answered that prayer. I was bought out of my 23 year job, I didn’t have the courage to leave, and it took a few years, but I am doing what God designed me for and I love it, I feel like I haven’t “gone to work” in years.
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I think you did the right thing. Of course, financial freedom matters a lot, but we also have other priorities in life which money can’t buy… 🙂
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Very true. Looking back, I’ll say I have no regrets especially now I get to wake up to the cooing of my little diva.
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❤ …
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I think I follow you about a year now and still amazed about the fantastic advice you still are able to provide, without it ever getting boring. So congratulations to that. You are a very inspiring woman, Kally! And I really feel joy every time we find a moment to connect.
Big big hug, XxX
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Awwww.. you are one sweet lady! You must be made of sugar! Thank you, Patty and I am sure grateful that our paths cross in this big blogosphere. Truly love connecting with you and every time I read your comments, my eyes light up. 😘
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