My first shot at the WordPress.com Daily Prompt geniuses. The topic: recall something I let slide, ate away at me later, and how I would fix it today. For my usual readers, this is a more serious post, so there’s less humor; unless, of course, you think psychological and emotional dysfunction is funny. Then again, Shakespeare was a master of mixing humor and tragedy.
I quit my job in April. I earned just under $38,000/yr, before taxes. Single, with no investments, means I end up owing taxes at the end of the year. About $1,000 in taxes. Still, $2,300/month after taxes is hard to argue with; at least, one might say until they’ve had three or four migraines a year. I had about six. For five years. It’s amazing I’m still alive and haven’t driven my car off a cliff.
This job was for web development and graphic design. That is, I was both a software developer (Java and PHP), and a graphic artist (advertisements, product labels, product design, etc.). Anyone who has worked in web design knows it can feel like complete hell.
The most frustrating part of the job was the extreme self-consciousness from other employees, and their seemingly defensive behavior to anyone with confidence. I, essentially, wasn’t allowed to be “right” about anything without setting aside a meeting, to formulate a plan, to come to a consensus, on where a button should be on a web page. Or, how to calculate sales tax. God forbid I went to college and have been programming software and websites since I was 14! Got to love corporate America’s love for long, drawn-out euphemistic bullshit.
The sheer level of condescending attitude from people more than twice my age is only countered by their so-called “decades of experience.” Experience, they seem to not have learned half of anything from except how to waste everyone’s time. Like mine. And I hate wasting time when I’m paid to do something.
I wouldn’t go back and fix it. However, if I come across this nonsense again (which I’m sure I will), I’m going to put my boots on and take a hike. I don’t want to take the chance of getting an aneurysm just so some washed up losers can feel “good” about something he or she needed ten meetings to decide on, when I already had the answer.
I’m still unemployed, broke, and hating the lack of income. However, my creativity and productivity has soared beyond what I had while employed. It’s helped me to understand that my sanity matters more than accepting migraines as a normal part of life. Now I’ve what, one? They’ll go away.
It does sound like you were ready for a change. Hope you find something you can enjoy working with soon.
Thank you. And yeah, I think after the eight month I should have left. I might look for something simple, and close to home that I can walk or bike to.
I quit working 11 years ago. I love the freedom, granted i have someone else to pay the bills for me. My creativity is at an all time peek.
Eleven!? Lucky you. If I quit working eleven years ago, my last job would have been McDonald’s.
Well that means you’re younger than I am. I quit working right after I turned 23. I am 34 now.
And that means you’re smarter than me!