The realisation hit me five hours after I resigned. Lying on my side, I felt the weight of it all sink in. My then partner surprised me with a bouquet of chrysanthemums dotted with gypsophila to mark the occasion. As I buried my face in the flowers, I teared up, overwhelmed by the enormity of the step I’d just taken. For the first time in years, I felt my tense body begin to relax. I was moving on, allowing myself the chance to start over.
Initially, I planned to resign in the middle of 2025, convinced I could hold on until then. I even had a specific date in mind. Over time, I noticed a growing sense of restlessness, a quiet knowing that I was ready for something else. I began to question myself: If I already know my end date, why wait? Part of me hesitated, thinking I should hold out for a lateral move, while another part worried that leaving might somehow discount the years I had poured into the work. But the truth was undeniable — staying longer would have meant delaying what I already knew deep down, that I needed something different to thrive.
What began as a mid-2025 plan shifted to a February birthday gift, and then finally became a Christmas gift to myself. It was a clear decision to begin 2025 aligned with what I truly wanted for my life at this stage. I spent the weeks leading up to it poring over financial spreadsheets, mapping out a month-by-month plan to ensure I could sustain myself without compromising future goals and my retirement plans. The clarity this brought gave me the confidence to act.
On December 24th, the morning of making my intent to resign known to my boss, I stuck to my usual routine. I grabbed a Fillet-O-Fish at McDonald’s and took the train to the office, music playing in my ears to calm my nerves.
By 10:30 a.m., I was ready. I walked up to my boss and made my decision known. The conversation lasted less than two minutes, an anticlimactic end to more than seven years of work. Yet in that brief exchange — almost my monologue — a chapter of my life came to a close.
Looking back, I see how much of myself I’ve poured into these past seven years and how they’ve shaped me. But I also see the toll it has taken, the parts of myself I’ve sacrificed along the way. This decision wasn’t just about leaving something that no longer served me; it was about stepping toward a life that truly aligns with my values and aspirations.
I’ve resigned, and a new series of chapters will begin in 2025.