Tips on How to Quit Your Job, Find Yourself, Live Your Life
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How Ordinary People Are Creating a New America
Are you already tired of the US presidential campaign? Have you had it up to here with politicians who promise to roll back gas prices by temporarily removing the gas tax for the summer travel season (yeah that'll put more oil in Saudi Arabia!), or who think that putting $600 borrowed from China into every American's pocket is going to fix our badly broken economy?
Are you sick to death of watching your health care premiums and your monthly expenses shoot up while your pay raises, if you get any, don't even keep up with inflation? Do you get up every morning wondering if you'll have a job or if you'll be able to make it through another day at your particular version of corporate hell? Are you just tired of being constantly lied to?
I know I am. But having ranted myself into exhaustion, I've been noticing lately that something interesting and even hopeful has been happening right in front of my eyes. I couldn't actually see it though until I calmed down. This is what I see: People are starting to just say no.
I'm sure that the way this is beginning to play out is not at all what Nancy Reagan had in mind when she first coined that phrase as the trademark slogan of the pretend war-on-drugs. Even so, people are starting to go the way of the protagonist in Paddy Chaevsky's "Network": They're mad as hell and they aren't going to take it anymore. People are starting to just, well, stop. People are dropping out.
It may surprise you to learn that there is a Buddhist word for this: renunciation. If you are on a treadmill, a big turning uncaring wheel, the first thing you need to do to get off the wheel is get off the wheel. Sounds obvious, and yet, it goes against everything we've been taught is American and good for us. Renunciation comes not so much out of a place of anger and rebellion, but rather out of a recognition that some things only lead to suffering and oppression, and the most important thing you can do is not do them.
I admit I am still working on this myself. I am "in process" as they say. I am still clinging to four hours a day at the bank in order to stay medically insured, even though working there 1) wastes resources, 2) goes against my values, 3) makes me nuts, 4) takes away from my time to write, and 5) pays very very badly.
I am writing this as much to inspire myself as to help others. So, in the interest of limiting any further suffering (especially by me) in this rapidly changing America, here is my list of things I am currently working on not doing:
Don't Drive It's so simple yet anathema to most of us.Don't drive!!!!??? The truth is, I could almost never drive if I chose to take this seriously. I could bike or walk to the grocery once a week. I could quit my stupid bank job and make lots more money writing full-time at home. I have gardening to do and about three dozen books I've promised myself to read and a dog to walk. The lifestyle that involved the car is an addiction encouraged by advertising and corporate America and I could stop living it if chose to.
Don't Spend Money This one has been developing naturally due to the fact that I no longer have any time to drive around spending money even when I do have money to spend. I find, surprise surprise, that I do not miss it. We have everything we need and then some, and are thinking of selling some things we don't need. If I were to put money on the bottom of the list of ways to get things we need, we'd have a lot more money, and it isn't even that hard to do.
Don't Eat Garbage So much of our food is resource-wasting and bad for us. In fact much of it is so bad for us we should call it poison, not food. i recently quit buying snacks out of the vending machines at work and packaged coookies and have dropped seven pounds in three weeks without changing much of anything else.
Don't Do Work That Violate Your Values This is the tough one for me. I live in Michigan, and have a chronic illness which currently isn't doing anything at all to me, but is something to keep in mind for sure. What this means is I can't get private health insurance and there are very few paying jobs around the state that provide it anymore. Michigan has one of the worst economies in the US because of the failing auto industry. I cut back to the bare minimum number of hours I have to work to keep the insurance, and additionally, I have committed to either tell the truth on the phone, or at least not lie outright, no matter what our talking points are. This is where I am with it. Meanwhile the freelance writing income is growing--this coming week I have more $$$ in work to do than I made when I was full-time at the bank--that is on top of the part-time income there. One of these days I'll 1) find another part-time job with insurance that doesn't make me hate myself, or 2) just bail. But at least I know what to do.
Right now, everyone in America seems to be waiting for their $600 tax rebate from Uncle Sam. Instead of spending this on a TV or clothes made in China, I have the sense that a lot of people are going to be using that money to become more secure--they will save it, invest in energy saving appliances or weather sealing, buy heating oil for next winter, and so on. Right now I am also taking the following steps to make myself more self-reliant and ready to leave my cublicle in corporate hell: 1) Paying off what is left of my debt, 2) saving money, 3) growing as much of my own food as I can.
Believe it or not, there was a time when Americans were not referred to as "consumers." We used to be citizens, human beings, businesspersons, craftspersons, writers, artists, you name it. I want that time to come back, and watching the current crop of politicians talk about crap that doesn't matter, I'm starting to think the only way to get that time back is to take it back.
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Comments
Amen to that. I think people are just so fed up right now they can hardly stand it.
Pgrundy: The best life for me is working from home, and writing; away from the craziness and politics of the world. I have this now, but it took me a few years to reach this place as there was a lot of struggle on my end at first. Had I planned it better by making better investments, the struggle would not have happened. At the moment, I am paying off a few credit card bills, leaving a small balance for the FICO score, and saving as I don't know how long the business will last. I have lost the desire to spend and spend as I used to when living in NY. If I do spend, its for something of value.
Right now, I am learning gardening as I never had a garden, as I lived in a Co-op, so my first project is going to be a Zen garden. Would love to grow vegetables and fruits...
That sounds great violetsun. I have 11 years until I can retire 'officially' but I'm working on dropping out way sooner, like, now. I'm doing a lot of the same things--paying off my credit cards, not spending money, finding other money resources, and saving. Just since cutting back to half time at the bank and picking up lost revenue by writing and cutting back, I've had a number of chronic ailments disappear on their own. The most welcome relief was this constant jaw pain that has pretty much disappeared--it used to keep me from falling asleep and it was hard to eat. I'm convinced that was stress-related now, and stress to what end? Good luck on the Zen garden!
Oh my gosh, I feel like these are all my words. Except for the part about making enough money writing. I'm still searching for legitimate writing jobs. It's going very slowly, but I feel this is the answer for me right now. I'll plug on. If you have any tips for finding them... I'm not shy, email me, kyellis@hotmail.com.
I recently started eating an alkaline diet and it's going quite well so far, you might look into it. The theory is that no disease can live in a body that is alkaline. It's when our body chemistry is more acid we get into trouble. That meant cutting out all junk food, wheat flour, sugar, etc.
I am finding that when you don't concentrate on spending; and concentrate on not spending; then you begin to live your life because you finally have time. Course, most of us still have to work; etc. But we all can find new ways to live better and easier. I'm working on it. I wont give up my car yet tho. LOL
Hi Karen & marisuewrites!
It's funny you should mention that alkaline diet--One of my clients just mailed me a book about it as a gift. It's mostly root vegetables and dark green fresh things, but I like both of those. I've been thinking of trying that too--how strange and coincidental (cue 'Twilight Zone' theme...) I'll email you some website for finding writing work. I get most of my paid work at Elance but some people hate that site, so I guess it's just the luck of the draw.
I know what you mean about spending taking up a lot of time, mariesue. I noticed that right away when I started writing---I have no time to spend now, and writing was what I always wanted to do with my life, later, when I had time. Suddenly, now that I can't afford to be wandering around Target and DSW shoes, I have time!
Sir, you really are quite a philanthropist! I'm not kidding! Being the aging cynic that I am it's really a bit strange but also very positive to encounter you here. At 61 I have only a few more months before I can "officially" retire. Still, I intend to pursue the freelance opportunities you discussed in your other HUB.
Your ideas are very sound and quite logical. I rarely use my car any more. Like you, I can walk to the grocery. I’m currently unemployed but we’re squeaking by. My wife is disabled and we’re caring for our grandson of 5 who is also disabled. It’s quite an adventure. We do some growing and try to eat with care.
In the days ahead, the message to everyone should be LOCALIZE. In every way possible, stop relying on the centralized machine. That way of life is what has gotten us into this mess.
Never surrender.
Hey thanks ColdWarBaby! I agree about the LOCALIZE part. The corporatization of America is killing us. I think it may have already killed us, actually. Strange to say, I hope for that. May they all tank, you know? Hang in there! It seems lately that LOTS of people are 'squeaking by' with great anxiety. I may never get to retire --I'm coming to terms with that, but damn it I'm going to at least try to do things that matter to me. Thanks for your supportive comments.
I chanced on your excellent comments while browsing. As it happens, I'm a banker too- actually a "former banker" since I quit my middle management job just a week ago!!!!!! I guess the starvation will kick in in a few months, but right now I don't give a rat's behind!
I was with the same mid size community bank for over 15 years and reached a point where I couldn't stand to spend one more day at my desk. Maybe I'm nostalgic but I think things are changing for the worse in the corporate world. Every employee is expected to multi-task yet even more duties and responsibilities until they eventually can't think straight. Technology has made things far worse with the unending stream of emails and voice mails ad nauseum.
The final straw for me was a new regime where we were asked to "coach" each staff every week to see why they weren't reaching their sales goals-basically nag them until they break. Of course, I would also be "coached" on why my staff might not be reaching all of their 50 different product sales goals.
Having to put up with it myself is one thing but having to inflict tedious pain on other employees was the limit. An example of just another time consuming series of tasks added onto the thousand other things that had to be done with no consideration as to how much time and staffing was available to achieve these tasks. Also no consideration given to the fact that my department was profitable and perhaps we could omit some of these tasks.
When corporations jump onto a new idea or method, it has to be adopted like a fanatic religion until the next great concept comes along. Short-sighted and stupid. This is the way of corporations today.
I appreciate the chance to rant up a bit; I feel better now.
Keep up what you are saying and doing. We must not define ourselves as consumers nor slaves to corporations.
Bankertoo, thank you so much for your comments! You can't imagine how good it feels to get that kind of validation. I do think that middle management has it worse than we peons on the bottom of the pile, because corporate bugs you guys directly, whereas they don't even talk to us, not really--we just get dumb memos and form emails from the CEO that we can laugh at, or burn, or flush, or whatever. So you get it from the bottom and the top simultaneously.
I have a feeling that the bank I work at isn't going to make it--I don't know how long it will take, but every day I walk in there and pray for my pink slip. FDIC has a list of 70 banks--most of them big regional banks--that it expects to fail within the coming two years. If that happens, the decision will be made for me and I'll get unemployment insurance to boot, something I've never gotten in 37 years of working my ass off.
I'd just quit if it weren't for the insurance thing. I went out of there in an ambulance last week and spent the weekend in the hospital getting heart attack tests. The hospital let me go after a couple of days, but now its' going to be harder than ever to get private health insurance because that is on my 'permanent record'. LOL! I was resolved to just never go back after that attack and damn the consequences, but now my man is convinced I will croak on him and be denied care for whatever the hell my problem is (it's old age, that's all it is, but it's hard to face up to when its someone you love). So I've had three interviews in the past several days and a couple more lined up--I figure at least I can change the scenery if not improve it.
Recently one of our best sales people got himself fired on purpose, that's how demoralized people are there. So, truly, you're not alone. Glad you got a chance to rant here! Good luck with your future! I'm so glad you are out of there! (PS we planted our veggie garden yesterday, so come what may, we'll have lots of tomatoes around July if you need any just drop me an email.)
PG:
It's none of my beeswax, but, geez, is it possible that the job is making your health worse? There has to be something out there that would be a more pleasant job experience. As you say, even a change of scenery may help. You are totally on the right track to interview for something else.
In the last few years of my banking pergatory, I was starting to feel wiped out, stressed out, sick, irritable. My husband told me that I was grinding my teeth at night-loud enough to wake him up. I began to think that my so called "career" was not nurturing me- in fact it was sucking up my life! This was an epiphany for me. I guess most corporations like to think they have a "relationship" with their employees. The employee gets paid and, in return, the employee is treated like a pack mule.
You are right to point out that a number of banks are under financial strain. I believe there is panic in many executive offices and I don't envy the decisions these people will have to make. Many small and mid-sized banks will probably have to merge if they hope to survive. It will be stressful for everyone. These banks need income desperately and they are whipping the staff hard. I hate to say it, but being laid off would be more merciful...although many small banks can't afford to pay severances.
Good luck with your interviews, PG, and keep up the writing and finding ways to get paid for your talent !
Thanks Bankertoo!
I agree, in fact I'm convinced that the bank is a big part of my health problems. I can't get insurance through my spouse's company--he's with a trucking company and everyone is cutting back on benefits. It's so frustrating. But like you say, I'm at the point where I would be happy to be laid off and hope it happens. At least I'd be out and it wouldnt' be my fault I let the health insurance go. By the way, the bills are starting to come in and are currently up to around 10K even with the insurance---for two days and an ambulance ride! Things are so nuts in the country right now. I'm just trying to take care of myself and not get in a knot--it's hard but what else is there to do? I keep pumping out those resumes---got hired by one yesterday, no bennies. Couldn't take it. I really did want that job, but now I HAVE to have health insurance. What a catch-22!
Thank you for validating my feelings. You can't imagine how helpful that is all by itself!
You should read some stuff on the so-called pots and pans revolution in Argentina in 2001, when the middle classes took to the streets rattling pots and pans as a sign of their dissatisfaction. Maybe it's time for something similar where you are.
WE NEED TO CLOSE THE THE BORDER, AND STOP FILLING UP THE JAILS!!!
THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING!! DUH!! OR, BUILD MORE JAILS TO CREATE JOBS????
Amen! to all of that. We sold ourselves a long time ago, but we need to get it all back.
Right on RGraf! Right on. (o:
I've known too many people who have worked 70-80 hours weekly, (on a salary) just to be able to keep their health insurance, but God forbid, you take a sick day-or actually get sick and be forced to use it. You'd be out the door before you could object.
I also have faith in this country. I believe we'll turn it around. One can only put up with so much before it's time to say "no more"
Thanks for the hub.
Hi rockinjoe!
I wrote this awhile ago, before I quit the bank. I left that job at end of October. It was really, really hard to quit because it meant I'd have no health insurance anymore, but what happened was, I had heart attack symptoms at work, got taken to the hospital in an ambulance, spent two days there, where I ran up a $15,000 bill and exceeded my allowed work absences. My health insurance only paid a portion of the bill, leaving me with a four figure outstanding amount due that the hospital wanted paid on receipt. When I told them I didn't have that immediately and asked to make payment arrangements they turned me over to collections, saying they no longer make payment arrangements! I was about to get fired for the absences so I quit.
No regrets. Best thing I ever did. Thanks for your comments!
HI PG,
I'm not from America but I find your tips very helpful. Very helpful insights.
thanks
Thanks Sheena!
It's amazing to think that you wrote this hub 8 months ago. Your words are just as timely today. Great hub, as always.
Thanks minnow! It's amazing to me too--I'm so glad to be out of that bank. Don't know what the future holds, but the present is 1000% improved.
wow this is a very revolutionary hub and i really like it :) i just got rid of my car since living in chicago makes it unnecessary. and i love it! with the exception of wanting it to visit people, it just isnt missed. u are right about so much in this hub. thanks!
Thank you For Real. Have a Happy New Year. (o:
I agree with minnow. I thought this was your latest hub! LOL! I was confused for a second, asking myself if you actually went back to your bank job! Obviously, it's just a really, really well written hub. As usual.
My question is this:
What are we "citizens" doing to make sure this cycle doesn't continue into the next generation?
I can stop driving my car. I can stop eating fast food. I can quit my distraction-from-life job. I can invest in energy saving appliances. These are all nice little short term solutions to very big, complicated problems. My kids are still going to go to school and be taught how to be an employee. They will be asked, "What do you want to BE when you grow up?" instead of "what do you want to DO when you grow up?"
They won't have social security (though they may somehow still have to pay into it). They most likely won't have 401k. And they will most likely be competing against someone from a foriegn country who recieved a much better education and was NOT taught to be an employee, but to go into business for themselves! How do we make sure our kids don't take our places in these dead end jobs?
I think we need to re-educate ourselves and stop the cycle. Build a legacy for our future generations. Not to spoil our kids, but just to give them more options. Freedom is having choices. I would just as soon choose to be job free, debt free, and financially free.
ParadigmShift, I agree completely. I think about that all the time, about how we don't need battery powered cars or wind generators (well we do need them but we need more than that)--we need A PARADIGM SHIFT! Seriously, we need to make such deep changes and it feels like being in free fall.
I would love to see more apprenticeships at the Junior High level. Right now from Grades 7 through 12 it's like one long babysitting session for kids who can't go to college. Why not let them learn things they can actually use so that if they drop out they can at least have a decent quality of life and some independence?
It wasn't that long ago that most people did not attend high school because they learned a living from their father or uncle or mother or aunt. Sometimes I think that was a much better system. Thank you for your thoughtful comments here.
Truly inspirational, even more so because the personal and very practical angle makes it a lot more attainable for others. If that makes sense.
Not doing work that violates one's values is the most difficult to attain, I think, because most of us need to work for a living and, sadly, it seems that most jobs aren't especially conductive to being in peace with oneself.
For that, however, I have my own advice: If you absolutely can't leave behind the job you have, then at least try to think of how the job helps you, what do you get out of it (pays the bills? feeds the family? gives you health insurance?) It won't become the job of your dreams, but thinking of the positives usually makes it more bearable.
Moot point for you because you resolved it by quitting :-) And good riddance because it was making you absolutely miserable, so I think you did the best you could do.
Thanks, as always!
Thank you Elena! That means a lot coming from you. I really admire your ability to navigate corporate waters without hating yourself. I wish I had been better at it, but then, maybe it just isn't the best placement for me. I do think we all have unique abilities and gifts and deserve work that suits us as well as it can, but I agree that sometimes you just have suit up and show up and take pride in providing for yourself and your family. Thanks for commenting!
amazing hub
This is wonderful - I recently signed on as a fan and have been reading through all your articles - you're consistantly a good read. Good advice for those wanting to be "healthy, welthy, and wise". Good luck to you.
Thank you Jules! All the best to you!
This is a great hub. I told my sister not long ago that I have noticed a shift in consumer spending habits. There was a time when I would go to a craft fair or a monthly Market Day and I couldn't GIVE away a pillowcase dress. I charge less than the boutiques charge, but I wasn't the boutique so I guess I wasn't important enough. Now I can sell dresses and the person who buys from me can keep at least 20 extra dollars in their pocket (or least buy their child some shoes to match the purse)! I feel like this just might be the time that people who sell items that they make can SHINE if they can keep their price right! It's about time.
I agree! I've gotten some negative feedback from business experts who say that people won't spend on home crafts and small businesses right now because all they care about is low price, but I'm not seeing that to be true. If anything, I see people pulling back from the big chains and looking for locally made goods and local service people. I always seek out both when I can and I know lots of people who do. Thanks for your comment and good luck on your business!
A local newspaper is going to do an article on my dresses. I would get a booth in the local mall if I could afford it, but I can't see paying $2,000.00 per month for a kiosk and working until 9 pm (or hiring a parttime person). More than one person has suggested that I get a kiosk. When I tell them about the price, etc., they all say, "Never mind!"
robie2 says:
2 years ago
For sure, pg, I'm tired of the political circus too and agree with you that we need to rethink the consumer mentality and the rampent materialism. These are interesting times we live in and an opportunity as well as a crisis, I think. Americans have always been good a re-inventing themselves and i think tis time to do it again.