1- This was a well-timed episode:
From Good Inside (Dr Becky) – Is It Okay to Quit?
There has been a lot of quitting recently by one child in particular, and it has been challenging at times (and continues to be). I haven’t figured it all our NOR do I feel like this episode had all the answers, but it was still a useful listen.
2- Fall dinner ideas from Brittany. Seriously, if you need inspiration, this list is fantastic. I think this might be a chili weekend for us even if the weather isn’t exactly on board (though this morning’s low is 66F which is A BIG DEAL as I haven’t seen a number below 70 in months!!!!!)
3- Journaling. For someone that has about 384734 planners, I don’t do that much journaling. Maybe because I’m used to pouring all of my most intimate thoughts out here (note: not everything is blog worthy!). But last night I felt the pull to start. It felt good! I think it’s because I am headed into such a transitional period. I have a mix of excitement, anxiety, and a (probably false) sense of urgency and my head and heart are both trying to make sense of it all. Free form journaling seems to help.
4- NEW MONTH is coming! I did not meet all of my September goals, but made progress on some of them. This weekend I will go through my monthly review checklist, including:
- YNAB budget reconciliation and quarterly financial reckoning (not gonna be good from an investment standpoint! Oh well. LONG GAME LONG GAME LONG GAME I’ll keep repeating to myself)
- Goal review + creation, which includes reviewing the quintile goals I set, looking at September’s goal list, looking ahead at the events of the month, and crafting October’s list of goals
- Apple Notes review + cleanup
- Childcare audit, including thinking through coverage needed in November (date nights etc!)
5- ENDINGS. Today is my last day as program director — the end of a ~6-year-long chapter of my life and career. The day itself will probably feel pretty anticlimactic, as it’s a clinical day for me (I had to move patients due to Ian / childcare issues). But it is kind of a big deal, and a day I’ve been thinking about for a long time. I have some sad feelings about the change and also some excited ones thinking about a future with more time and availability for the kids + for my creative work. There are things I will really miss about the role, and yet I’m pretty sure it would be hard to ever go back.
Onward and upward!
10 Comments
I hope you walk away from your last day in this role feeling very proud of all you achieved. It has always felt very bittersweet for me when I have made a career change related to my family, but a decision made from your gut and based on your values will lead to such a better sense of internal peace once you allow the changes to settle in. Congratulations and I hope your family and workplace celebrates you, your faithful service to your program, and your courage to try something new!
Sarah, I’ll be thinking about you as you start this new chapter! I hope your last day in your current role feels good, and that you’re doing something this weekend to celebrate!
A new month and a truly new beginning! That portrait by A. may turn out to be emblematic of this transition: you look relaxed (not saying you were, but it sure looks that way!) and confident. Wishing you a season of increased family closeness and SHU-led creative expression, just the way you want it!
Celebrating you from afar as you embrace this new beginning; how exciting! I feel like the portrait A took of you emits your current energy- confident in your choices and harnessing a relaxed and positive energy to move forward with. Happy for you!
PS: thanks for sharing the fall food link 🙂
Of course it’s ok to quit. I quit taking Ob call 6 months ago and while sometimes I get pangs of guilt because I actually feel passionate about women’s health, occasionally I get to work in the gyn ORs (which is much less aggravating, and I still hate it) and I am reminded that I hate the substance of the job and I should not go back despite feeling guilty. Quitting got me an immediate reduction in overnight call by approximately 14 overnights per year, and an immediate reduction in aggravation. The benefits to my mood and overall wellbeing have been priceless.
Here’s to a fresh start and new beginnings! I am sure this change is bittersweet. I didn’t realize you’d been in that roll for 6 years. Think of all the lives you impacted! But this change will be so good for you and your family. And the reduction in recurrent meetings must be SUBSTANTIAL!!!
The financial markets have been insane. We pretty much only look at our balances quarterly but have added to the kids 529s during this sell-off. But overall for youngish people like us, high rates are good in the long run as the investment opportunities are SO much better than they’ve been, at least on the fixed income side which is my area of expertise. But the decline in value is very depressing and especially tough for those closer to retirement! I do wonder about the FIRE people who focus on the RE part and have aggressive expectations for the return of their portfolio… periods like this must be very stressful for them! I’m thinking of the population that retires reallllllly early, like in their 30-40s.
Wishing you a fantastic new beginning as you wrap up that role and move into having more space and margin in your life!
i have the same sunglass for running, very comfy.
congrats on the LAST day… bittersweet is my current state of mind. maybe I should free flow journaling too. i haven’t even done daily routine journey lately given all the transitions. time to get back to it to have some normalcy.
I’m always inspired by your intentional planning and great to hear about the journaling! If you or anyone reading is interested, here is a simple guided journal for parents (an easy way to encourage reflection, gratitude and setting intentions). Each day has simple prompts along with a daily reflection question. The Early Years: https://www.amazon.com/Early-Years-journal-toddlers-preschoolers/dp/B09RGYC6Z1/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2KPHGOOXID76M&keywords=the+early+years+journal&qid=1664742601&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIwLjAwIiwicXNhIjoiMC4wMCIsInFzcCI6IjAuMDAifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+early+years+journal%2Caps%2C95&sr=8-1
Oh very cool! Thank you for sharing!