I always get a little sentimental about change. I was that girl who cried at my middle school graduation. And got a little misty eyed in college when the semester ended and my roommates — the girls I spent every waking day with — scattered to their own summer plans. And any move, even an exciting one like when I left DC and finally lived in the same town as J, gets me all gushy inside. There’s just something about change that’s so… final. The ending of an era.
Today is my last day of work. This is the place I have gone to every weekday for the past two years. I started this job when I moved to Raleigh and was learning to navigate my way around the city. My coworkers celebrated when I got engaged, surprised me with a potluck lunch before I got married, and wished me happy birthday each year with a yummy cake. I’ve gotten so many free perks with this job too — college basketball tickets, NASCAR races, cooking classes, fancy dinners. I’ve learned so much about the advertising industry and certainly wouldn’t have landed my new opportunity without the experience I’ve had here.
It’s easy for me to romanticize about the past and fear the present. What life changes will happen while I’m at this new job? Will my new coworkers be as nice as the ones I’m working with now? Will my position be as stimulating as I anticipate?
While I’m sad to say goodbye to a place and people that were a part of my routine for two years, I am really excited about this new adventure and can’t wait to see what happens in this next chapter of life.
Do you get sentimental about change? Or do you embrace it with welcome arms?
I understand exactly what you are saying. I cried like a baby when I quit my job last year. I had been with the company for 4 years. It’s difficult to say goodbye, but beginnings are so much fun and the road has been a great stretching experience for me. :) Very character building!
Every job I’ve left has been incredibly hard because of the people that had taken me under their wings and become mentors. I didn’t want to feel like I was disappointing them by going a different direction, but they were far from mad. Sad to lose me, but happy that I was making my life the life I wanted it to be.
Good luck with the new gig!
Yep, totally sentimental here. It was SO hard to leave my first FT job. However, I quickly adjusted and now it feels like I’ve been at my new company forever. Here’s to new beginnings.
I feel kind of lucky to not be too sentimental when it comes to change. I may wax nostalgic a bit, but there are no tears.
Ginna — I’m so excited for you and your new job plans. I think the fear of the unknown is what I always feel when I’m clamming up before a big change like that. It comes from the comfort of what I know and not wanting to let that go.
You are going to be great!