Reasons for choices, and choices for reason.

I'm trying to keep up with my blog more than I have in the past few months, especially since I had so much fun blogging during my race and my training the last few months (www.racetoerase.blogspot.com). Right now I'm sitting at home, taking a week off before I move and (hopefully) start my new job, so I have a little extra time to blog, in between gloomily staring at my apartment and dreading the packing process.

A lot of people, friends and family alike, have expressed doubts about the career decision I made...to leave a secure job and start travel therapy (contract work). I know that everyone who's commented is doing so out of concern for me and for my well being, but I just wanted to address some of the reasons why I did what I did, so that there is a better understanding.

First of all, I didn't foresee that I would be in this position, leaving my old job without a new one lined up and waiting for me. I have been pondering a change of this nature for about a year now, but have put it off in the past because I was unsure of myself and because I was still pretty green in my physical therapy career. Now, I have two years of experience under my belt, and I feel much more confident in my skills, and I'm also just in a better frame of mind personally to accept this kind of change. So, when my lease expiration started looming, I just decided not to resign like I did last year, and to start looking at other career options. My co-worker, who does travel therapy, helped get me started with the company that she works for. I have been working with them for a couple months now; basically, their job is to find me contract positions in the location/region that I want to go. They've been really great, working hard to find me a position, but unfortunately my lack of experience in anything but outpatient orthopedics seems to be hindering me right now. I had originally thought I'd have a job lined up before my other job ended, but that is not the case. Does this make me nervous? Of course it does! Does it stress me out? Absolutely. Does it cause me to doubt the choice I made to leave my old job? Nope, not even a little.

Here's the thing. I wasn't happy where I was. I wasn't happy at my job, I was bored in the town I live in, I didn't really have many friends my age, and the things/activities I do enjoy are difficult to find around here. So, even though I had a secure job, it wasn't enough. I purposely let my lease expire, because I knew it would force me to take action. I now have 8 days before I have to move out, so no matter what happens, whether I have a travel assignment by then or not, I have to be gone. Sure it's not an ideal situation, but at this point, anywhere is better than here anyway. I'm just not the kind of person to stay in a situation that makes me unhappy. I can't justify staying at a job that I literally felt miserable at, just because it's a job. I know that isn't the right decision for everybody, and I'm not saying that everyone that hates or dislikes their job should quit. It was just the right decision for me, personally. I may be worried about income in the near future, but I do have some backup plans...and my excitement about my future far outweighs any anxiety about my job prospects in travel therapy. If anything, I can take a permanent or per diem job anywhere in Florida for awhile, which are very, very plentiful, and gain some experience in other settings, then pursue the travel therapy a little later.

I count myself very lucky/blessed that I am in the position to be able to make this change right now. Because I have no children or dependents, I can make riskier career decisions and pursue my own interests without having to think about how it will affect anyone else, because it won't. It's a great position to be in, and I have to say that no matter what happens, I know that I made the right choice for me.