I quit!

I finally did it.

I quit.

I didn't do it in the way I imagined though. I always dreamed it would be a little more like this:

Joanna Quits With Flair
Office Space — MOVIECLIPS.com

I was far more mild mannered, unfortunately.

I just couldn't take it anymore. The hours were sucking my will to live, the demands were outrageous, my body was constantly sore - I felt like I was suffering from some sort of shell shock. There was always an issue when I needed a day off, I could never call in sick (even with a fever), and I feared for my life if I got stuck in traffic on my way to work because if I was a minute late I would be fired. One time I took a 15 minute long video on my phone to prove I was in gridlock traffic so I wouldn't get in trouble.

The straw that broke the camel's back was Easter Sunday. I never requested off on holidays, I worked Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Eve, Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve, President's Day, Super Bowl, St. Patrick's Day... I requested off on Easter. EASTER!!! Who really cares about having off on Easter? 

Well apparently a few people because I couldn't have the day off. They scheduled me to open the restaurant after closing the night before (I got home at 3am and needed to be back by 10am). By the time dinner with my family rolled around, I could barely keep my eyes opened at the table.

I get home later that night and check my schedule. I requested off the next Saturday because I needed to visit my aunt who was just diagnosed with early stages of Alzheimer's. They gave me Saturday off, but scheduled me for a double on Friday (without asking AND I would have a 2 hour break in between my afternoon and evening shifts AND i was closing so I would be there from 12pm - 3am) and put me on for Tuesday night which was not even in my availability because of school. I started to have a meltdown.

The next morning (Monday) I woke up, typed up my resume and proceeded to call places that were nothing like restaurants: gyms, health centers, yoga studios etc. I sent my resume to one yoga studio in particular that was hiring. 

I headed into work that night with a knot in my stomach. I did not want to be there ever again.

Who would've known that would be my last shift? The next day (Tuesday) I arranged an interview at the Yoga Studio, got a fantastic position, drove straight to the restaurant and told them I would not be working that weekend. I found and new job and would be starting immediately.

:)