The Job I Quit

I quit my job on a Friday. Walked into my boss's office, handed her my resignation letter. Felt a weight lift off my shoulders.\n\n"What are you going to do?" she asked.\n\n"I don't know. But I know I can't stay here."\n\nSeven years at that company. Seven years of soul-crushing work, being undervalued and overworked. I had convinced myself that adulthood meant tolerating misery.\n\nI was wrong.\n\nThe first month, I did nothing. Slept, read, took long walks.\n\nThen I started freelancing. Small projects. Then bigger ones. I discovered I could make a living doing work that didn't make me want to cry.\n\nI don't make as much money now. But I don't spend Sunday evenings dreading Monday morning. I don't cry in the office bathroom.\n\nYour job should not cost you your soul. And if it does, it's time to leave.