Life changing decision - any advice/experience?

[MarkF]

Helen, I left my job 1n 1999 to travel around the USA. I burnt my bridges quiet deliberately, walked in, told my boss I was leaving, when he enquired "when"? I said "now" there was hell on Emptied my desk, left my car keys on it and set off walking to the station.........I was in New York the same day. I was old to quit a career, 35, but if I hadn't done it then, I'd still be at the same desk.

I was bored with my work, I didn't get any pleasure from it or from the people I worked with.......pay was good.

If you don't enjoy your job now, I don't see how you will enjoy it when you return to it after travelling and experiencing so much "life". Your unpaid leave is really an extended holiday isn't it? You'll have set date to return to work, that will always be on your mind and that's a bit different to being "free" and letting your dreams run riot.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[MarkF]

Helen, I left my job 1n 1999 to travel around the USA. I burnt my bridges quiet deliberately, walked in, told my boss I was leaving, when he enquired "when"? I said "now" there was hell on Emptied my desk, left my car keys on it and set off walking to the station.........I was in New York the same day. I was old to quit a career, 35, but if I hadn't done it then, I'd still be at the same desk.

I was bored with my work, I didn't get any pleasure from it or from the people I worked with.......pay was good.

If you don't enjoy your job now, I don't see how you will enjoy it when you return to it after travelling and experiencing so much "life". Your unpaid leave is really an extended holiday isn't it? You'll have set date to return to work, that will always be on your mind and that's a bit different to being "free" and letting your dreams run riot.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[MarkF]

Helen, I left my job 1n 1999 to travel around the USA. I burnt my bridges quiet deliberately, walked in, told my boss I was leaving, when he enquired "when"? I said "now" there was hell on Emptied my desk, left my car keys on it and set off walking to the station.........I was in New York the same day. I was old to quit a career, 35, but if I hadn't done it then, I'd still be at the same desk.

I was bored with my work, I didn't get any pleasure from it or from the people I worked with.......pay was good.

If you don't enjoy your job now, I don't see how you will enjoy it when you return to it after travelling and experiencing so much "life". Your unpaid leave is really an extended holiday isn't it? You'll have set date to return to work, that will always be on your mind and that's a bit different to being "free" and letting your dreams run riot.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

 

[HelenD123]

well, i'd normally agree with the majority of other peoples posts on this. however, knowing you to be a very practical sort of a girl,i would have thought you would have taken the unpaid leave option as being the obvious way to go. the fact that you're hesitating on this leads me to think that what you want to do is burn the bridges.
i say burn baby burn!
oh and can i rent ya house ;-)

Thanks. That means a lot.

The house will be up for rent at the end of May so any takers welcome!

 

[HelenD123]

well, i'd normally agree with the majority of other peoples posts on this. however, knowing you to be a very practical sort of a girl,i would have thought you would have taken the unpaid leave option as being the obvious way to go. the fact that you're hesitating on this leads me to think that what you want to do is burn the bridges.
i say burn baby burn!
oh and can i rent ya house ;-)

Thanks. That means a lot.

The house will be up for rent at the end of May so any takers welcome!

 

[HelenD123]

well, i'd normally agree with the majority of other peoples posts on this. however, knowing you to be a very practical sort of a girl,i would have thought you would have taken the unpaid leave option as being the obvious way to go. the fact that you're hesitating on this leads me to think that what you want to do is burn the bridges.
i say burn baby burn!
oh and can i rent ya house ;-)

Thanks. That means a lot.

The house will be up for rent at the end of May so any takers welcome!

 

[HelenD123]

Helen, I left my job 1n 1999 to travel around the USA. I burnt my bridges quiet deliberately, walked in, told my boss I was leaving, when he enquired "when"? I said "now" there was hell on Emptied my desk, left my car keys on it and set off walking to the station.........I was in New York the same day. I was old to quit a career, 35, but if I hadn't done it then, I'd still be at the same desk.

I was bored with my work, I didn't get any pleasure from it or from the people I worked with.......pay was good.

If you don't enjoy your job now, I don't see how you will enjoy it when you return to it after travelling and experiencing so much "life". Your unpaid leave is really an extended holiday isn't it? You'll have set date to return to work, that will always be on your mind and that's a bit different to being "free" and letting your dreams run riot.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Mark - you talk a lot of sense. I'm not quite as spontaneous as you though! I have to give four months notice which means I have to put it in writing by early next week. I want to leave on good terms because I like the people I work with, and will likely need a reference when I get back!

 

[HelenD123]

Helen, I left my job 1n 1999 to travel around the USA. I burnt my bridges quiet deliberately, walked in, told my boss I was leaving, when he enquired "when"? I said "now" there was hell on Emptied my desk, left my car keys on it and set off walking to the station.........I was in New York the same day. I was old to quit a career, 35, but if I hadn't done it then, I'd still be at the same desk.

I was bored with my work, I didn't get any pleasure from it or from the people I worked with.......pay was good.

If you don't enjoy your job now, I don't see how you will enjoy it when you return to it after travelling and experiencing so much "life". Your unpaid leave is really an extended holiday isn't it? You'll have set date to return to work, that will always be on your mind and that's a bit different to being "free" and letting your dreams run riot.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Mark - you talk a lot of sense. I'm not quite as spontaneous as you though! I have to give four months notice which means I have to put it in writing by early next week. I want to leave on good terms because I like the people I work with, and will likely need a reference when I get back!

 

[HelenD123]

Helen, I left my job 1n 1999 to travel around the USA. I burnt my bridges quiet deliberately, walked in, told my boss I was leaving, when he enquired "when"? I said "now" there was hell on Emptied my desk, left my car keys on it and set off walking to the station.........I was in New York the same day. I was old to quit a career, 35, but if I hadn't done it then, I'd still be at the same desk.

I was bored with my work, I didn't get any pleasure from it or from the people I worked with.......pay was good.

If you don't enjoy your job now, I don't see how you will enjoy it when you return to it after travelling and experiencing so much "life". Your unpaid leave is really an extended holiday isn't it? You'll have set date to return to work, that will always be on your mind and that's a bit different to being "free" and letting your dreams run riot.

Good luck whatever you decide to do.

Mark - you talk a lot of sense. I'm not quite as spontaneous as you though! I have to give four months notice which means I have to put it in writing by early next week. I want to leave on good terms because I like the people I work with, and will likely need a reference when I get back!

 

[Crankarm]

Crankarm - I am by nature very cautious and have been saving hard so I can survive for quite a while when I get back if I can't find a job. And if it all goes pear-shaped my parents have said they'll take me in! As you say, these opportunities are rare and I don't want to waste it. It's not just an excuse for an extended holiday, it's a chance to send my life in a different direction. I don't know what I want to do workwise when I get back but I know I'm not happy in my current job and haven't been for quite a while.

Clean break then. When you get back, if you come back, you'll set your sights on something new and pursue it with passion and confidence which is 99.9% of the key to success. I know it's huge jump into the unknown, but it really focuses you on what you want and don't want. You might not have all the pieces of the jigsaw at the moment but that doesn't matter. Some will come into view some will become redundant or an irrelevance. It maybe that you get to where ever you go find yourself and your talent, a vocation in life and that's it, your are content. I don't mean to be patronising but there are no right answers. You have to do what feels right for you at the time taking into account obviously that you say you are a cautious person.

Reflecting on some of my decisions, my decisions to travel have NEVER caused me to regret for an instance. Remaining in a job I hated does.

If you are OK at your job then I can't see why they wouldn't take you back SHOULD you wish to go back. If you've been there a number of years then you will have to weigh up whether loss of job security, benefits and stability is something you are prepared to sacrifice. Or maybe the position has become intolerable, so leave, but which begs the question why would you want to keep an opportunity open to return? It's only keeping baggage from the past. Keep in touch with a few of the friends you had there by all means but even this will fizzle out after time unless they were true friends.

Obviously you don't tell your employers to "Go feck themselves ...." You still leave totally amicably and have the leaving party and tears from your colleagues who are not crying for you but for themselves.

Some times taking the first step is the hardest.

Keep us posted or send us a virtual post card. Fortunately with the internet you can post on here from anywhere in the world with a connection.

 

[Crankarm]

Crankarm - I am by nature very cautious and have been saving hard so I can survive for quite a while when I get back if I can't find a job. And if it all goes pear-shaped my parents have said they'll take me in! As you say, these opportunities are rare and I don't want to waste it. It's not just an excuse for an extended holiday, it's a chance to send my life in a different direction. I don't know what I want to do workwise when I get back but I know I'm not happy in my current job and haven't been for quite a while.

Clean break then. When you get back, if you come back, you'll set your sights on something new and pursue it with passion and confidence which is 99.9% of the key to success. I know it's huge jump into the unknown, but it really focuses you on what you want and don't want. You might not have all the pieces of the jigsaw at the moment but that doesn't matter. Some will come into view some will become redundant or an irrelevance. It maybe that you get to where ever you go find yourself and your talent, a vocation in life and that's it, your are content. I don't mean to be patronising but there are no right answers. You have to do what feels right for you at the time taking into account obviously that you say you are a cautious person.

Reflecting on some of my decisions, my decisions to travel have NEVER caused me to regret for an instance. Remaining in a job I hated does.

If you are OK at your job then I can't see why they wouldn't take you back SHOULD you wish to go back. If you've been there a number of years then you will have to weigh up whether loss of job security, benefits and stability is something you are prepared to sacrifice. Or maybe the position has become intolerable, so leave, but which begs the question why would you want to keep an opportunity open to return? It's only keeping baggage from the past. Keep in touch with a few of the friends you had there by all means but even this will fizzle out after time unless they were true friends.

Obviously you don't tell your employers to "Go feck themselves ...." You still leave totally amicably and have the leaving party and tears from your colleagues who are not crying for you but for themselves.

Some times taking the first step is the hardest.

Keep us posted or send us a virtual post card. Fortunately with the internet you can post on here from anywhere in the world with a connection.

 

[Crankarm]

Crankarm - I am by nature very cautious and have been saving hard so I can survive for quite a while when I get back if I can't find a job. And if it all goes pear-shaped my parents have said they'll take me in! As you say, these opportunities are rare and I don't want to waste it. It's not just an excuse for an extended holiday, it's a chance to send my life in a different direction. I don't know what I want to do workwise when I get back but I know I'm not happy in my current job and haven't been for quite a while.

Clean break then. When you get back, if you come back, you'll set your sights on something new and pursue it with passion and confidence which is 99.9% of the key to success. I know it's huge jump into the unknown, but it really focuses you on what you want and don't want. You might not have all the pieces of the jigsaw at the moment but that doesn't matter. Some will come into view some will become redundant or an irrelevance. It maybe that you get to where ever you go find yourself and your talent, a vocation in life and that's it, your are content. I don't mean to be patronising but there are no right answers. You have to do what feels right for you at the time taking into account obviously that you say you are a cautious person.

Reflecting on some of my decisions, my decisions to travel have NEVER caused me to regret for an instance. Remaining in a job I hated does.

If you are OK at your job then I can't see why they wouldn't take you back SHOULD you wish to go back. If you've been there a number of years then you will have to weigh up whether loss of job security, benefits and stability is something you are prepared to sacrifice. Or maybe the position has become intolerable, so leave, but which begs the question why would you want to keep an opportunity open to return? It's only keeping baggage from the past. Keep in touch with a few of the friends you had there by all means but even this will fizzle out after time unless they were true friends.

Obviously you don't tell your employers to "Go feck themselves ...." You still leave totally amicably and have the leaving party and tears from your colleagues who are not crying for you but for themselves.

Some times taking the first step is the hardest.

Keep us posted or send us a virtual post card. Fortunately with the internet you can post on here from anywhere in the world with a connection.

 

[HelenD123]

Thanks again Crankarm. Very good advice. I don't want to know all the answers before I set off. There wouldn't be any point, would there?!

I think I'm fairly well regarded at work, otherwise they would just have let me go, rather than offering the unpaid leave. We are a bit short staffed at the moment and it takes a while to replace people so there's a chance there'd be something for me to come back to if I wanted it, although there are budget cuts on the horizon. I think I need to stick with my original decision and just go.

 

[HelenD123]

Thanks again Crankarm. Very good advice. I don't want to know all the answers before I set off. There wouldn't be any point, would there?!

I think I'm fairly well regarded at work, otherwise they would just have let me go, rather than offering the unpaid leave. We are a bit short staffed at the moment and it takes a while to replace people so there's a chance there'd be something for me to come back to if I wanted it, although there are budget cuts on the horizon. I think I need to stick with my original decision and just go.

 

[HelenD123]

Thanks again Crankarm. Very good advice. I don't want to know all the answers before I set off. There wouldn't be any point, would there?!

I think I'm fairly well regarded at work, otherwise they would just have let me go, rather than offering the unpaid leave. We are a bit short staffed at the moment and it takes a while to replace people so there's a chance there'd be something for me to come back to if I wanted it, although there are budget cuts on the horizon. I think I need to stick with my original decision and just go.