One, Two Punch

I have embraced the art of quitting – wholeheartedly. Even this posting. I’ve started – and quit – at least a half dozen times. It started in 2010. I moved from Arizona (not the quitting part) to Idaho (also not the quitting part) to go to Law School. I had finally got the courage to move some place new – all by myself and I was starting a new career. It turns out I was quitting “someone” and running away. And yes – you guessed it – I quit Law School. Turns out I couldn’t run away from who I was – and that person just didn’t know how to “join” law school – and as it turns out being a part of something or belonging to a group during law school is important. But – hey i’m not a fan of group anythings – and certainly not forced socialization. I realize you are probably not surprised (and yes that will be another entry for your amusement). So – I quit – and ran away… kind of.

Quick list of things I have quit:

Marriage x2 – the second one lasted 6 months and on good days I tell myself it didn’t really count. (Lie)

Graduate program for a Master’s Degree – with just my thesis left to complete (yep – i recognize and embrace the stupidity).

Too many jobs at this point to count. Some I had a very good reason. Most I just didn’t want to be there anymore – which is actually a very good reason to quit… Running? Who says i’m running?

Places, for sure. People…many of those. Myself mostly.

But do you know what the best quitting is? Quitting a movie that sucks and is wasting your time. It’s like a freedom. It made me feel accomplished – and I had shed my cheap clothing. I got rid of that feeling that I had to stay and endure it because I paid $10. I did not have to suffer… I just QUIT and walked out never looking back. And yes – I was alone doing it.

I followed that quitting with books that were boring, more jobs, and more people. I quit my greatest love – the gym (but mostly because I couldn’t afford it). I quit the nail salon – but I do them myself. I quit one career and I am trying to start another. Oh – and during that first career I quit doing CPR – but only because they were dead. (Sorry the medical humor creeps in – I know someone out there will get it. I f you are offended – feel free to quit reading).

And now, somehow, I realize that when I left Arizona that first time – I was quitting. I quit being afraid to leave. I quit the comfort of a place I had been for too long. I quit staying in some place just because my family was there. I quit the familiar.

I quit and began exploring the world.