Who am I to tell anyone to quit their job now? I may sound pathetic and ridiculous but I will tell you my own story NOT anyone else’s. It’s been 14 days since I have left my 8 year old job to pause my life for a moment then try to rewrite my destiny if I still can. My former coworker asked me if I am bored already I said “Heck No and No Way!”. I just cannot take doing the same things over and over again. And I am so damn proud of my early rewards. I was able to grant a few things that I have always deprived myself for such a long time: sleeping well, resting a lot and praying.
While everyone is rushing to wake up in the morning preparing for work and go home dead tired in the evening, I chose to stop the alarm clock for ruling my life at least for now. Okay I will be hypocrite if I don't feel anything negative at all, but if there’s one, that is I am scared because for years I am used to check my ATM account every 15th and 30th of the month seeing a fixed amount of cash enough to make me financially satisfied for a given period of time.
Let go and be carefree
I was chatting with another former coworker who also left her stable job for another one she is less paid but gives her the opportunity to travel the whole Philippines! Isn't it super awesome? I realized that no matter how most of us are slaved by money, there are a few who just let go and just their life carefree. And I think I feel exactly what Lois’ post on Facebook says, the blogger behind We Are Sole Sisters. She said, “Decided that instead of leading my life, I'm going to let LIFE lead me. Had the sudden realization today to just stop planning and let my life story unfold. I have to stop trying to be in control and just enjoy the ride.”
Millions in the bank
No I don’t have millions in the bank that triggered me to leave my job suddenly and I don’t think a lot of us have more than enough savings to quit their job in an instant. Savings will decrease over time if you don’t have a regular job after a month or a year but if you have a skill, talent or a business you own yourself you can survive. Yes you can the modest way. Sure the pay won’t be the same as or more than the salary I receive every payday but I got what I have been dreaming of. Work anywhere and anytime. I am my own boss. In my case it is a blog –based business, Travel Maria a blog and online travel package shop. Yours truly has been doing remote business transactions with partners around the Philippines: Paranaque ,Laguna, Bacolod, Palawan, Ilocos and Cebu. Trust me but I only met one out of my six business partners! My sale has been increasing more and more each week with clients from varied industries: a company outing, family, barkadas, lovebirds etc. I have also added Iloilo, Bacolod, and Guimaras tour. Coming soon are Cagayan de Oro and Camiguin then focus more to Palawan. Life is all about living simply we only become slaved by too much of work because of responsibilities and bills to pay but life is not about it.
Dying to leave but can't
I have friends who are dying to leave their jobs but they really can’t. Why? They bought a lot of expensive mobile phones via their credit card now they have to pay it for years. They rented a condo unit when they can rent a little space enough for them. I even know a few who are staying in their company only waiting to be retrenched to receive a bunch of hundred thousand pesos and that is like 1 out of 10 chances. They have extravagant lifestyle that requires them to work more for a job that they don’t like but they have to because they are paid more.
I have friends who are dying to leave their jobs but they really can’t. Why? They bought a lot of expensive mobile phones via their credit card now they have to pay it for years. They rented a condo unit when they can rent a little space enough for them. I even know a few who are staying in their company only waiting to be retrenched to receive a bunch of hundred thousand pesos and that is like 1 out of 10 chances. They have extravagant lifestyle that requires them to work more for a job that they don’t like but they have to because they are paid more.
More conscious of my expenses
And since I am now location – independent I have become more conscious of my expenses. I just realized that it is not really what someone makes per month but it is how much he saves out of his expenses. Reality that is, most of us the more our salary increases, the more we increase our spending habits. I have booked a one way ticket to home to see my family. I think I will spend a month there. I don’t know if I will get bored as I am provenciana no more but then again my life is paused right now. I want to live life as simple as it can be. I will return to Manila for sure soon.
For those who are in my shoes right now, do yourself a favor quit that job no matter how high paying it is or just take a break. Find something that will fulfill you and gives you more reason to keep doing it. If you don’t know how to start, just start anything you can and learn from there.
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