It’s always weird when you see your old job posted in the classifieds. It’s like, hey, that’s MY job. What are they doing advertising it? LOL. Then you remember that you left that long-term relationship. You broke up with them. And that’s how it should be treated — like the end of a caring relationship that had its ups and downs, but somehow, you’re going to be better off without each other. Everyone is raw and unsure in the aftermath of the breakup, but you know that nothing lasts forever and that the “right” match is out there for both you and your employer.
I finally have some irons in the fire for my freelance business. In fact, I’ll be working quite a bit this week. And getting the first client is always the hardest, so I can go to other clients and say that I’m in high demand so they’d better book me quickly! LOL.
I was just e-mailing with a dear friend about a (romantic) breakup that shook me to my core. He kept giving me every reason under the sun to leave, but I stuck it out. Did I think I was going to be some kind of hero or martyr, waiting through the bad that never seemed to end? But there truly were moments of happiness and comfort that I wouldn’t trade for the world — that’s what kept me there so long. But when I left and got some perspective (and he invited me back), I saw very clearly that we had both changed. But we changed so much that what we had in common didn’t exist anymore. And maybe it never did, but we didn’t know that at the time. In any event, you’ve got to learn what you can — whether from the job or from the romantic pairing — and take it with you into your next realm.
I guess I’ve always regarded breakups of any sort as a chance for people to work out their personal stuff and that, if the timing is ever right, they can get back together and see what can happen. But more often than not, the relationship probably should have ended long before it did. Or maybe it did end earlier and everyone pretended not to notice. But you really can’t go back and fix things. The best you can do is apologize for what you did wrong, in retrospect, and definitely not apologize for becoming a better person after all is said and done.
But that’s not to say the door isn’t open for you to achieve some sort of peace or truce. Life is just one big series of stepping stones and scenic stops along the bustling highways. You can’t always go back, but sometimes, if you’re lucky, you can visit, even if it’s only for a few moments in your mind.
On iTunes: Melissa Ferrick, “Taste”