Losing my job was the best way to kick off 2023.
Let me explain.
After two years of working from home due to the pandemic, I discovered how I work best. It is remote, on my own schedule. Previously, I was convinced I found comfort in the routine of corporate America. Knowing exactly when I would be working and when I had off helped me manage my time better (or so I told myself). As it turns out, I was wrong. Working intuitively for my body and mind works best, and when I returned to the office, the reality was too glaring to ignore. But ignore it I tried.
My goal had always been to pivot to full-time freelance. My husband has a job he adores, and his schedule has always been the opposite of mine, working evenings and weekends. We rarely saw each other. Between the two of us, I was the one who could make a change that gave us more time together. Freelancing was the clear choice - it worked for me creatively and for us as a family. Over the years, I'd gathered experience, worked with incredible clients on the side of my 9-5 job, and told myself, "when the time is right, I'll transition to doing this full-time." I dipped my toes, took the safe route. But I don't think I would have ever had the courage to take the leap. The prospect of leaving a secure job with a reliable paycheck and benefits was terrifying, so I stayed long after I should have - long after my mental health was in ruins and my confidence as a writer shattered.
And then I was pushed.
It was a relief.
While the initial shock and panic of finances still linger, I'm now working my dream job: I am my own boss. I make my own schedule. The people and brands I work with are my clients, I am not their employee. Does my new reality require an insane amount of hustling and chasing down leads? Yes. Does it mean I constantly feel like I need to do more? Yes. Am I watching my bank account dwindle without the consistent salary check coming in twice a month? Of course. But, I'd still prefer this over working in corporate again.
The adjustment period is rough, but it is temporary. I look forward to the day in the near future when I have to turn down work because my plate is as full as I want it to be. I look forward to the day further down the road when my fine jewelry line, Psyche Fine Jewelry, makes up the majority of my income. While it might not feel like it right now, it will all work out. I already have more time to dedicate to the things I love and work on a schedule that makes sense for me and my needs. My confidence in my work came rushing back almost immediately. During my third week of unemployment, my husband looked over at me and said, "you seem much happier."
I am.
Cheers to what comes next,
Claire
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