In my July 4, 2021 post Okay so here is a tote bag (or two)…, I wrote:
I have lots of stories to share, things I’ve been making, and news even about a major life change (even if possibly temporary)
Here is the news:
I quit my job and I am taking some time off to focus on my crafting, sewing, quilting, textile art, etc. Before I return to employment in the healthcare industry, I plan to re-open my tierneycreates Etsy shop. I am spending the next several months focused on my creativity.
My last day at work was July 1, 2021 and I’d been with my former employer for 16 years. Back in November 2019 I transferred within the company from an important and useful position to what turned out to be an awful situation where I felt like I had no value in the company.
A little background: In 2019 I was in the midst of my first year as a new widow and I thought maybe a different job would help me re-focus as I was losing passion and focus for the position I was in when my husband passed. Of course I did not fully realize that when you lose your life partner all the things you thought were important (like your job) become meaningless (except to provide a paycheck).
I won’t bore you all the details of why the new position I transferred to in November 2019 did not work out. Let’s just say it wasn’t just a case of “the grass is not always greener on the other side” mistake, it was more like “the grass was rotting and putrid on the other side“!

I did meet some wonderful people in the position and had some great colleagues. But unfortunately that was not enough as there were nasty corporate “political” issues going on; and as I discovered, someone in leadership was trying to see me fail in my position. Actually my whole position was set up to fail from the beginning with the reporting structure they set up for the position.
It was a remote position and I enjoyed working from home but I was miserable and hated logging into work each morning.

So if there is anything I learned from my husband’s sudden passing in December 2018 it was that life is short/your time on earth is not guaranteed to be long, so make the best what time you have.
My partner John has a wonderful health insurance plan and I could go on it, so I did. So now I am taking time off, not sure for how long (colleagues at my former employee have already been contacting me with job opportunities but I have declined them for now), but I’ve set a goal not to consider returning to the healthcare industry full-time (or part-time) until I make progress on some of my creative dreams.

I am fortunate to be able to do this; and I’ve been thinking a lot about this quote from the book Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin:
“Money is something you trade your life energy for. You sell your time for money. It doesn’t matter that Ned over there sells his time for a hundred dollars and you sell yours for twenty dollars an hour. Ned’s money is irrelevant to you. The only real asset you have is your time. The hours of your life.”
― Vicki Robin, Your Money or Your Life
Postscript
So you might be thinking: “Well Tierney, since you’ve been off work since July2, 2021, where is all the stuff you could have been creating since then?” The answer is that I’ve been traveling, catching up with friends and family. I was out of town most of last week and will be headed off to visit my brother and his family later this week.
So I might need to be off work for a while as first I need to reconnect with family and friends I could not see during the pandemic, before I can get into a creative flow!
And maybe for a while I just won’t have a specific plan and see what that is like for a change…
One day at a time indeed!
And it sounds like you made the choice that leads to a “fully alive” path and I say good for you!
Many good things are in store and appreciated you sharing your story! It can inspire others to eventually make those tough calls to break free and live!
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Thank you so much and for all your kind and thoughtful words, I really appreciate you 😀😀😀
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☀️☀️☀️
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That’s a great idea, step back, find your path, and you’ll for sure find it.
Just yesterday I said to a friend (Messenger) “In life, sometimes you have “kiss something goodbye”…” This particular friend is new in my life but her partner isn’t and if she had relayed that to him, he probably said “that’s Catherine’s way…”
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I like that, that sometimes you just have to kiss something goodbye ! Thanks so much for your thoughtful comments 😀
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Wow, that´s fantastic, that you made the decision to follow your dreams wholeheartedly and stop taking nonsense from your job. I know where you are coming from I too have a soul-crushing job. I´m sure you will do amazing, you are so creative and artistic.
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Thank you Alice I really appreciate that and I’m feeling very peaceful these days and I think my creativity is really going to flow!
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Sounds good, Tierney. I think you are on a good path. I endorse your decision to let time pass, see how things shake out, and how you want to proceed, rather than immediately going into a planning stage. Enjoy yourself!
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Thanks so much Claudia I’ve always been an over planner and I’m taking a little break from all that over planning 😀😀😀
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Congrats on leaving “a soul crushing” job. Enjoy your time off and good luck with the new creative phase of your life’s journey!
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Thanks so much I really appreciate that and I am looking forward to the next couple of months 😀😀😀
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Tierney, I know EXACTLY how that soul-crushing work can feel. Thankfully I didn’t have to lose anyone to realize it, but I was miserable in my previous job…and that misery had been going on for well over 7 years. It’s a scary decision, but also an exciting one that I’m sure has given you gobs of new energy. Onward and upward! 😃😍😃
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Thanks so much Tammie and for sharing your experience 😀😀😀! Yup we’ll just say no to soul crushation (yup abuse of English language lol)
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Tierney, it sounds like you’ve made an incredibly healthy step. I’m glad your first priority since closing this work chapter of your life has been to reconnect with your family and friends. I pray this time brings more healing and look forward to seeing the fruit of your creative labor.
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Thank you my dear I really appreciate that! And my dog likes that I’m more relaxed and peaceful too so something must be right 😀😀😀
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Why do I think Mike did a happy dance when you gave him the good news
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Wow Tierney, that’s a big step but it sounds like a wise decision if you are unhappy in your job. Good luck!
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I know it’s kind of crazy stuff but it feels right right now! Thanks so much for your thoughts 😀😀😀
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Well, on the crazy scale it’s not that bad. At least you know you’re already good at sewing and quilting. It’s not like you gave up your job, bought a dilapidated building abroad that you’re planning to renovate into a B&B all by yourself because you’re on a tight budget when the only DIY thing you’ve ever done is hang a picture frame.
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Now wait, that sounds like a fun idea…ha! But I am impressed by people who do such scary things and succeed! 🙂
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Good for you. Welcome to liberation!
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Thanks so much Dave I appreciate it 😀😀😀
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“So you might be thinking: “Well Tierney, since you’ve been off work since July2, 2021, where is all the stuff you could have been creating since then?” ”
HA! It never crossed my mind to think that – especially as I”m a creative and know how creative lives are 100% non-linear so often ‘results’ are un-quatifyable in normal ‘work a day’ terms.
That statement alone reveals a slightly unbalanced view on the scheme of things in your creative life!!!!
Welcome to your ‘sabbatical’ new normal.
😎
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Thanks so much Laura I really appreciate your comments and humor 😀😀😀
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Huge life change, indeed, dear Tierney. I’m also glad to learn that you’ve been seeing friends and traveling, how fun that is. And, I adore your quotes, especially the one about dreams. So true. We must create them and then go get them. Love it. ❤
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Thanks so much Jeff! I do appreciate your thoughts and glad you liked the quotes 😀
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You’re welcome, Tierney. Always, always!! 🤗🤗
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Congratulations and more power to you! Take it all in and enjoy.
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Thanks so much I appreciate that 😀😀😀
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Good for you. My advice to people in bad work situations is always – get out, at the earliest opportunity and as soon as you can afford it. The reality is, unless you’re the boss, you don’t have the power to fix bad work culture, so why make yourself miserable. Enjoy your creating.
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Brilliant thing to remember that I do not have the power to fix bad work culture 😀😀😀😀
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Tierney, I totally understand how difficult the job situation must have been for you, After all, we spend half of our lives trying to survive in the work force for a pay check. Literally, it is “surviving” by the skin of our teeth especially when things are so toxic and we lose sight of what brings us joy. . I look forward to seeing what Tierney Creates will do with her creative time. I am also excited that we can have fun together on some quilt retreats and of course traveling with you and your partner, Mo (John) (Amadeo). I see some exciting times ahead. :))))
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Thanks so much Kathy I really appreciate that and I look forward to it also to see what I end up doing with my time! Hugs♥️
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Like everyone else I wish you all the best. I am pleased that you are taking it easy, catching up with yourself as well as others, and not berating yourself for not getting to the creativity. That will come, and it sounds like there are already ideas dancing and colliding in your creative brain. Their turn will come….and we will be ready to see them. Have fun each day!
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Thank you so much and I really appreciate that and I am looking forward to this adventure!😀
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I wish you well with your plans. I have a term-of-project job, and at the end of each project, I plan to do lots of personal things, but I always wind up taking the first week off just to decompress and transition to the new plan.
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Thanks so much! Taking a week off to decompress sounds really smart!
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I’ve been in that position too – and took WAY too long to figure out that I could quit and survive. Hooray for you! That takes courage but is a great choice. On to bigger and better things!
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Thanks so much for stopping by Jamie and I appreciate so many people like you relating to my experience. I do not feel alone 🙂
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Congratulations! It sounds like you will be so much happier 🙂 Good for you! Taking the time to recharge and work on what makes you happy will be wonderful 🙂
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Congratulations! It’s hard to let go of the security of employment that you’ve worked hard to achieve. This will be a good move for your well-being. I found myself in the position where my dream job turned into a nightmare and I was terrified of giving up what I looked upon as an investment – my education and my years of improving my practice – but thankfully, with the support of my partner, I was able to retire early and have not regretted it, it saved my sanity. Wishing you creative joy and a new beginning. x
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Ah! Thank you for sharing this very important news and I am sure you will not regret your decision for one single second. Enjoy your new freedom and happy stitching!
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Good luck with your new endeavor! I look forward to seeing how it goes 🙂
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Me too! Listening to Etsy seller motivational podcasts right now 🙂
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