Why is quitting on my mind?
Recently an interaction between Andrew and a person he hired caused me to reflect on quitting. I’m proud to be a quitter and have quit so, so many things in my life. Here’s what happened and my reflection.
A person my husband hired quit after three weeks of work. A part of the conversation I overheard (the joys of living in an RV and working from the front seat) the person shared embarrassment about quitting. That it sets a bad example for their kids. From my perspective, the job didn’t seem to suit them, so quitting was a good decision. This was good for my husband and the team. It was apparent that they couldn’t or wouldn’t meet the expectations of the position. It was a good choice for them, as they didn’t get fired and left on their own terms. So why the angst about quitting?
I’m happy to have quit so many things
As a kid I quit dance classes to focus more on tennis. I eventually quit playing tennis because I had injuries and also needed to work while I went to college. Another time, I quit a job that became toxic after I refused to date a coworker and he spread rumors about me. I quit my teaching career to follow my Spirit. Four years after becoming a landlord in Reno I quit that, too. In the next year or two we will quit living in the RV full time.
(This is nowhere near a comprehensive list; I figure I can make my point without listing everything I’ve quit.)
Does all this quitting make me a loser? Am I a bad person, leaving things in the heat of the moment, driven by ego, being angry, and pathetic? No; I’m none of those things. To me, quitting is changing direction. Sometimes I quit because there are limited resources, other times for a new opportunity, and on a few occasions it was to stop doing things that caused me to act out of my integrity.
Quit because of limited resources
My parents had limited resources (driving me around, financial, etc) and I had limited time. A choice needed to be made. Did I want to continue dance lessons or did I want to continue the tennis lessons I had just begun? I loved dancing and was sad to quit – but it was the choice I made.
Quitting after so much is invested
How about my teaching career? I worked so hard to be the best teacher I could be for 16 years. Should I have stayed another 14 years because of the time and money I invested in that career? Was I reckless to leave a career that offered health benefits and retirement? No. It was the right choice for me. I was unhappy working in the system, I wanted less stress, I saw other opportunities and so I quit the career I loved, disliked parts of, and learned so much from. It was time for new opportunities.
Quitting for new oportunities
Now, we have lived in our RV full time for five years. We loved the experience and the travel. There have been so many, many lessons about being self sufficient and how to make a relationship work in a space where you can ALWAYS hear everything. Now, it’s time to quit full time RV life and spend several months each year on a property where we will build our sustainable retirement house. Again, quitting is just a choice.
I’m definitely proud to quit things I don’t enjoy
A couple winters ago Andrew and I got ski passes for Mt. Rose in Nevada. It’s beautiful and there are plenty of “easy” slops.. We went about two times a week for a month. I didn’t enjoy the experience at the beginning – it was scary. I kept at it and took a couple lessons and suggested that Andrew ski on his own so he’d actually enjoy himself. I got a bit better and eventually was able to ski from the top lift to the bottom without falling. That was on the easy trail! I attempted one slightly more difficult trail once, putting myself and other more skilled skiers at risk and it was awful. I decided by the end of the season that skiing isn’t for me and quit.
The Easy Way Out?
Quitting is not the easy way out. Each time I have quit something it took considerable thought and consideration. It took planning, work to prepare for what is next, and faith in myself that I knew what is best for me. I’m grateful my parents forced me to decide for myself between quitting tennis or dance lessons. I was 12 years old so they could have decided for me. At the time some people asked why I quit dance lessons, some made comments that I don’t exactly remember but I know made me feel like I had somehow failed. However, that experience showed me I could quit and be just fine! (Thanks Mom and Dad!)
Quitting is a choice. It’s choosing to leave something that doesn’t serve me at the time or maybe ever again. I am proud to be a quitter so that I can continue to follow my interests, my integrity, my spirit.
