Breaking up with my job
That’s basically what it is. It was an unhealthy work relationship, and now I’m in that phase where I haven’t moved out yet, but we’re trying to be civil. No matter how bad the relationship, you inevitably question your decision, start remembering the good parts and forgetting the bad parts. The comfort of what is familiar becomes enticing again, and you find yourself eventually dunking your head in cold water to get a little perspective.
The big difference between this and a break-up is that people don’t generally come up to you and ask if his/her daughter should date your ex. Okay, maybe they do, but that’s beyond stupid.
The economy is in the shitter, everyone is looking for a job, and everyone wants my job. I get that, it’s secure, it’s got a lot of perks. But it won’t be long before each new applicant becomes aware of why the position was vacated in the first place. I have to resist the siren song that is a cushy job with decent pay and benefits, because eventually it would have cost me a great deal more than it would have given me.
That’s the cold water. I’ve seen a lot of people trade their happiness for security, including myself. Life is too short. It’s going to take a monumental effort on my part to keep my chin up and not doubt my decision, but I’m going to. I have to have the courage to walk away from this and carve out something I deserve, or I will watch my spirit trickle away with every year that goes by.
That said, I still think it’s awkward for someone to ask me if his kid should apply for my job. Use your judgement. Anyone who has been here longer than me knows the challenges involved with working with certain individuals in this place. If the position never stays filled for more than a year, you can be pretty sure that there are some difficult personalities involved. If that’s something you want to send your daughter into, I hope your daughter has better judgement than you do.
