What will stay?
Baby Temp worked out fine today. She didn't quit mid-afternoon, and I really ought to know better than to believe my own stereotypes. What do people think when they hear that I'm Mennonite, for heaven's sake? She was dressed very trendily, with square glasses and a hip haircut, and when I came back from lunch I found tons of myspace and xanga addresses in our web browser. Which I could've guessed. But she was checking out Denison Witmer on myspace, and although I've never heard his music, I know that I'd like it.
In other news, I'm done. I handed in my keys and walked out at 4:30 this afternoon. I felt like singing and dancing in the street. I felt like calling everyone I know and shrieking with excitement. Good times.
Since I announced that I'm leaving, and why, everyone's said basically the same thing. "You have to do what's right for you." The temp yesterday said that, and she obviously followed her own advice. Plenty of other people have said the same thing. And I think they're right. I do have to do what's best for me.
But how do I know what's best for me? Seriously, I think that this new job is the right step, but I have no idea if it's a good choice in the long run. And there are so many cases when this statement doesn't ring true . . . as a parent, as a spouse, as a church member. So many times when you have to do what is right for someone else, even if it's not "right" for you (making you happy, your first choice, etc.) I don't think that as long as it makes me happy, it's OK.
So, by quitting my job, I make life difficult for a bunch of people, and possibly hurt the mission of my organization. I don't feel guilty about this. At all. And I'm not guilty about not feeling guilty. Plus, I'm going to help another organization, and the people there.
But the question I'm left with is this: what do I owe my co-workers? My family? My church community? The country? The world? Do I owe them any more than doing what makes me personally happy?
I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. But what more do I owe them? I don't know.
In other news, I'm done. I handed in my keys and walked out at 4:30 this afternoon. I felt like singing and dancing in the street. I felt like calling everyone I know and shrieking with excitement. Good times.
Since I announced that I'm leaving, and why, everyone's said basically the same thing. "You have to do what's right for you." The temp yesterday said that, and she obviously followed her own advice. Plenty of other people have said the same thing. And I think they're right. I do have to do what's best for me.
But how do I know what's best for me? Seriously, I think that this new job is the right step, but I have no idea if it's a good choice in the long run. And there are so many cases when this statement doesn't ring true . . . as a parent, as a spouse, as a church member. So many times when you have to do what is right for someone else, even if it's not "right" for you (making you happy, your first choice, etc.) I don't think that as long as it makes me happy, it's OK.
So, by quitting my job, I make life difficult for a bunch of people, and possibly hurt the mission of my organization. I don't feel guilty about this. At all. And I'm not guilty about not feeling guilty. Plus, I'm going to help another organization, and the people there.
But the question I'm left with is this: what do I owe my co-workers? My family? My church community? The country? The world? Do I owe them any more than doing what makes me personally happy?
I'm pretty sure the answer is yes. But what more do I owe them? I don't know.
posted by Melanie at 10:30 PM
