On Quitting

Quitting takes as much work as seeing it through. I realized this when (I thought) I was at the point of no return. My career wasn’t progressing as I would’ve liked, my paycheck was gone by the time it hit my account (bills, bills, bills), I was mentally burnt out and physically wiped out…y’know, life was life-ing. I decided I didn’t want to keep going on as I was. My outlook was bleak (at best), so I made the conscious decision to quit. It was a decision I was ok with—one I thought allowed me to regain control of my life. My very next thought, however, sent my anxiety in a spiral, ‘But how do I quit?’

Quitting meant I’d have to figure out how to…I don’t know, move back to my hometown…but that meant I’d have to break my lease (which would cost) and look for another job and because I haven’t lived with my mom since I was 17…another place too. And if I were to stay in Chicago, but switch career paths, that meant I’d have to refresh my resume and start a new grind—job hunting. Neither scenario sounded appealing. I wanted an option that required no effort. That’s the whole point of quitting, right?

I quickly realized quitting requires work. Quitting meant I’d have to analyze my next move and strategically plan the next chapter of my life. And if I was gonna put in all of that work…it wasn’t gonna be to end up in my mom’s guest room or working an entry-level job. If I was going to make a series of decisions and pivots, it was going to be in the direction of my dreams. It was going to be on my own terms. So, I channeled my frustration and with the fumes of energy I had left in my reserves, I gave my goals my all. In time, there was a comeback for every setback. And where there was once no light at the end of the tunnel, I began to see a glimmer, which turned into a ray, which turned into an abundance of light.

So to the person who’s contemplated quitting, or abandoning your dreams—don’t. Stick with it. See it through. And give them every ounce of energy and resolve you have to offer. You might’ve lost some battles, but you’ll win the war.