I have never been one who can up and leave a job easily. I make friends. They turn into a family like.
My first job I was there nearly 7 years. I had out-grown it. It was time to move on. But it still hurt to leave. They were there for me during my marriage, my problems with that.
Then I got the opportuinity where I am now. It was a chance I couldn't turn down. It was a great job. It was over 2x's what I was making and a huge leap career wise. But I had to leave my family.
I spent a year at that position. There my friends saw me thru rougher spots in my marriage and my divorce.
Then I got to the position I am now. I have made such great friends. Such amazing people doing amazing things. Making a difference - in the world.
My boss (who will never read this - but will get my thank you note later) is without a doubt, the most wonderful boss ever. Supportive, yet able to kick my ass when I need it. Would listen to me cry. Make me laugh. Buy me caffeine.
I will never forget, I had been overseas (Kuwait first then Iraq) for 2 1/2 weeks. I was tired, homesick and scared. I called him since who else would understand but someone who has been there. He listened to me cry. He said I could come home right then if I wanted, he would have travel arrange my flight home right away. He got someone to take me to get dinner. But he never made me feel bad for feeling what i was feeling.
His colleague "J" has been there for me. She listened to me when I had problems at my first position within the company. When my dad has his cancer scare last summer, she let me sob on her shoulder outside away from everyone. She never let me forget that someone cared. Never once.
It's hard leaving good co-workers. It's hard leaving friends. It's hard leaving GOOD friends. But it really sucks when those good co-workers become good friends and then turn into family.
As my boss called me Thursday to say a professional "good-bye", i started to cry. As I wrote the letters thanking my boss and "j" for being them and being there, I cried some more. Mark called in the middle of the second letter and asked me "are you sure you want to do this?". Damn, that made it harder. He said he would support me if I changed my mind.I can't.
This new job is a great move professionally. I just hope it starts to hurt less personally.
09 March 2007
Goodbye
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4 comments:
Having been in the teaching profession for about 15 years, my "then-husband" thought I needed to be in the "real world" and suggested I sell insurance. So, like an idiot, I decided to turn in my resignation and sell insurance. I was leaving a family. So many who you described in your post were there for me and me for them. The day I went back to clean out my classroom, my principal stuck his head in the door and told me he was headed to his office to interview the first person for my 4th grade position. I asked him if it was too late to change my mind. He grinned and said, "Nope, I can tell her you changed your mind."
I totally understand what you are saying and had I thought the change would have been a good career move, I would have stayed with the insurance, but it wasn't. I was with that family for several more years but moved to Colorado. During my trip to Oklahoma last week, 5 of us got together to reminisce and be family again.
It's great that you have had such a wonderful 'family' to work with. It's always hard to move on, but there is a new family on the horizon waiting to take you in and they will be there for you when you are missing your old family... and if they aren't there for you, your blogging friends will be. Mark is a good man to support you like that.
You've come through some other major changes just fine. This is a wonderful move. You were lucky to have this job, but unless you take a chance, you'll never know what else you can have.
Oooohhh...I am so there for you. That is kind of how I feel about my job now. My boss is wonderful and also knows when to kick me in the butt. It's hard...I am hoping that you quickly find new "family" within your new workplace and that these precious relationships will also be able to be preserved.
:-) Susan
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