I started training my replacement today. I thought i would feel a little regret, a little protectiveness about the ways I’ve done things all these years, maybe even a little reluctance to let go… mostly i just felt relief.
I keep noticing all the things I won’t have to do anymore or at least counting (on one hand) the last few times I’ll have to do them… like listen to people complain about our contract, or attend a particularly distasteful meeting. Today was different than any other training experience I’ve ever had because this time there really is no chance that the work will somehow find it’s way back to my desk. The baton is really and truly being passed.
I’ve been focusing a lot of thought on what comes next… considering potential names for the Etsy store I’m about to birth, contemplating how I want my business to feel and how it might serve the greater good. My friend Linda is writing an amazing blog series this week on starting a creative business and she has me thinking about all sorts of things that had escaped my notice… like taxes and tents and business planning (yes, Linda, I am finally reading Jen’s book 
).
This morning, after my boss announced my retirement to my coworkers, he asked me to tell everyone a little about my plans and I actually said the words I’ve always avoided… “I’m an artist and I’m going to focus on my creative work.” And you want to know the strangest thing of all? The words came out without me even thinking about them and, for possibly the first time, they felt true.
