Countdown:We Have a Lift-off!

Ooooooh! Today was the day. I went to work. For the last time. And the way I felt? Relieved. Relaxed. Pleased. Glad. At the end of the day I turned in my keys. For the last time. How did I feel? Ok, actually. I thought I would be upset. I thought it would tear me up to lose the keys to my sanctuary, my private and personal domain, my little kingdom. Or queendom. But I think I have come to the point where I am ready to move on with my life. I think I didn't admit it to myself until now, but for many years I continued teaching because I had no other choice. It wasn't about whether or not I liked my work. It wasn't about dedication or not. I LOVED my work and I was seriously committed to it. Now I remember feeling like there were many years when I couldn't allow myself the luxury of thinking about doing anything except working there. I was supporting a family. I had bills to pay. I had obligations, debts, a child. And a husband who wasn't too concerned about picking up the primary financial burdens. Why think about what I wanted to do instead of this job? It could only frustrate me, or worse, make me sad. Realizing that this was in the back of my head for a long time has been freeing. I can move on. We'll see how I feel after a few months of not doing this job.