A Crafter's Life

News

tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

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“!

Sales motivation quote: Sometimes the grass looks greener on the other side ... - YouTube

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.

I Hate My Job: Image Gallery (List View) | Know Your Meme

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.

How To Live Your Dream Life | Goalcast

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…

Willie Nelson Quote: “I live one day at a time, one day at a time. Yesterday's

Published by tierneycreates: a fusion of textiles and smiles

Quilter, crafter, obsessive tea drinker and lover of all furry creatures (especially dogs and cats) - join me on my tierneycreates blog as I share stories from "A Crafter's Life".

44 thoughts on “News”

  1. 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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  2. 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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  3. 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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  4. 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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  6. 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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  7. 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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      1. 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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  10. “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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  11. 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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  13. 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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  14. 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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  15. 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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  16. 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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  17. 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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  19. 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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