Soundtrack in my head: Tommy Roe: “Dizzy”
Being busy seems to make it more difficult to live a simple life. Trying to combine part-time grad school with a full time job is leading me to burn-out. I don’t see how I could do two or three more years of this. Plus, next semester, I will be taking seven credits (eight is considered full-time) and will be starting a fall field placement that will take up twelve hours per week.
So I did the only rational thing I could do.
I quit…
…my job.
Actually, I gave notice. My last day will be on 14 August. I’m going to have to take out more in student loans than I’d originally planned. I still plan on working, likely part-time. I qualify for the health-insurance plan at the university, so that gives me some flexibility.
I’ve always advocated for the simple life. I’m fighting burnout, and I don’t want to be burned out when I *begin* my new career. Besides, I also see this as an opportunity to do some things I’ve wanted to do but simply didn’t feel like I had the time.
Ever since I started thinking about going back to school, my long-term career goal has been to start my own private business practice as a therapist–either by myself or in partnership with other therapists. As such, I’m considering practicing for this possibility by starting my own DJing business. I want to get a better sense of the market, but given that I already have most of the equipment I need, I don’t see it as a huge risk.
I also have other interests I want to pursue. I need to get more serious about my spiritual practice as a Baha’i. I’ve been running around so much over the last year, I feel that I’ve lost my center. One thing the free time will accomplish for me: I’ll be able to go to the Green Lake Baha’i Conference for the entire weekend for the first time. I’m looking forward to the jolt of spiritual energy I hope to get from it.
I also want to get serious about a good diet and exercise program. I’ve gained a decent amount of weight during my first year in grad school. I still have a goal of making my bike my main source of transport, and that will be easier once I no longer have to commute six miles to a workplace with no shower.
I’ve been interested in getting involved with the Dane County Timebank. This organization has created what is essentially a barter system for services, where the currency is one hour of your time. I’ve always liked the idea of this, and I think it would be worthwhile to get involved and see what services I could offer and what services I could receive.
Finally, I want to see to what extent I can further foster a simpler life. I want to see how possible it is to feed myself with not much more than the $110 [per month each of us puts into our house food share. I need to eat more veggies. I won’t miss the cafeteria and vending machine food at work, even though they made a pretty penny from me.
I’ve worked mostly at desks for over 20 years and it’s taken a toll on my health. I’m not getting any younger. I’m told that my field placement will be less desk-oriented.
This will be a little scary. Already, there’s a part of me saying “Are you crazy? Do you realize what you’re doing???” But crazy would be continuing what I have been doing.
So I’m looking forward to this. The countdown is at 45 days…
