SaraWaggle.com

MY STORY

 I want to share a story with you. This story is about a woman named Sara. Sara is in her early 30s, has a graduate degree in her field and is working one of the top industry jobs. The job pays well has incredible benefits and offers her time off and sickleave. Sara‘s friends and family are super happy for her for landing such an incredible job fresh out of graduate school. In the first year or two of her new job Sara‘s colleagues were happy to have her on board. She was younger had fresh ideas and was considered to be a potential innovator for her department. Unfortunately, by the third fourth and now the fifth year of her incredible job her colleagues were questioning her gung ho attitude. Always looking for the next achievement, Sara went reaching for higher and higher. Unfortunately, in this job you must work several years to get to higher achievements. Furthermore Sara‘s personal life was not going anywhere fast. Sara was absorbed in her job and worked extra hours to keep caught up on her paperwork. Therefore, her personal life suffered. She was single, no prospects, childless, and the list goes on. In now her fifth year of this incredible job she was noticing herself only wanting to sleep on the weekends and losing complete interest in her hobbies. She owned her home but finances weren’t so good. She was painfully lonely at night and wanted companionship but had no interest in online dating or going out on the town to acquire a companion.

Sinking further and further into deep depression Sara decided to quit her incredible job. She had found direct sales and thought the idea sound glamorous to work from home on her own schedule without a commute and whenever she wanted. Her family friends and colleagues were devastated she’d be willing to give up such an incredible job… A job that many in her industry would give anything to have.

Sara felt guilty and shameful that she wasn’t happy. She should be happy! She had a good paying job the highest in her industry. But she was miserable.

The story of Sara is my own story. I share my story because to this day I have damaged relationships for choosing myself and my own well-being over a good paying job. I heard so many statements from family friends and other loved ones to the effect of “you’re a fucking loser“, “you’re an adult suck it up and deal with it“, “As an adult, put your big girl panties on take the anti-depressants and keep your job!“. These words coming from people who I thought loved mewere berating and belittling. It seemed like no one understood or cared that I was miserable.

Since leaving that job over 10 years ago, I’ve had difficult finances, but I’ve had amazing health, well being and lots of healing.  I’ve had plenty of friends stand by me and support me even if they don’t agree with what I chose and continue to choose.  I’ve continued to work towards becoming a leadership coach, I’ve dabbled in fitness and technology.  And I’ve appreciated that when I needed to rest or take a break that I’ve had the space to do so.  

Can you relate to Sara? Can you relate to her story? Are you wondering if that good paying job is actually worth it against your own well-being? If so, I would love to hear your story. I would love to connect with you. I would love to support you and guide you to give yourself permission to put yourself first.