Dear Subscriber First Name,

Oprah Winfrey starts each of her Super Soul podcast episodes with the reminder, “the greatest gift you can give yourself is time.” A month ago, I gifted myself time by hitting “pause” in a big way—I quit my job to do a “self-funded sabbatical”.

Leaving my job in advertising without another full-time job lined up was a tough decision. Every fiber in my body that was conditioned to seek and prioritize stability and certainty grimaced at the audacity of what I was about to do.

But if I learned anything from getting laid off and rehired twice in six months in 2020, it’s that stability and certainty are not guaranteed—even by a full-time job. I also realized that I could no longer brush aside how my criteria for a fulfilling career (and life) had evolved; the skin I was in no longer fit. It was time to let go.

I guess this means I’ve joined The Great Rethink, and I’m so grateful for this moment in my life. It comes at a time when I deeply needed to reenergize, and reacquaint myself with the joy in life. Now, I can shape my days differently, taking time to reflect on what comes next and soaking in the days without the stress of emails, Slack messages, and team/client needs awaiting me at the end.

Taking time off from working, no matter how long, is a privileged position to be in, and this is something I planned out, worked towards, and saved for. I’m still learning to uncouple guilt from this and similar experiences that my parents couldn’t have for themselves. When the guilt gets too strong, I remind myself that being in the position to choose is one of the reasons my parents pursued the American dream for our family.

In the next issue, I’ll share why I didn’t tell my parents about quitting until a month after I’d left my job, and how they reacted. Thanks for reading! 💌

Love,
Haemee

📚 Book lovers will be glad to know that bookstores are alive + well, and becoming more diverse.

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🎒 Would you go back to college in your 30’s? Our friend, Justin, did! He shared how making this decision required letting go of his identity as a full-time singer/performer (you may know him from the JRod Twins), and that “it’s OK to try something new”. 😍

😌 Repeat after me: “Resting is not a waste of time. It’s an investment in well-being.” This tweet by Adam Grant offers how to reframe rest, relaxation, breaks, and play so we can enjoy them without guilt.

Reading: The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamali - Roya is an idealistic teenager living in 1953 Tehran in the middle of political unrest in Iran. She finds a safe haven in kindly Mr. Fakhri’s neighborhood stationery shop. He introduces her to Bahman and their romance blossoms. A few months later, on the eve of their marriage, Roya agrees to meet Bahman in the center of town but he never shows. An accident of fate decades later reunites them and Roya is haunted with questions.

Watching: Yumi’s Cells (Viki) - “All humans on the planet are being kept running by a complex network of cells that largely goes unnoticed. Each of Yu Mi’s cells controls her emotions, feelings, and actions. After a painful breakup, Yu Mi’s love cells fall into a deep coma […] until the sudden appearance of Goo Woong. When both Yu Mi and Goo Woong’s love cells work overtime, the duo find themselves drawing closer. But will the cells be enough to bring two hearts together forever?”

Eating: Ginger scallion enoki mushrooms over rice- This 10 minute vegetarian dish is full of flavor, comforting, and super easy to make. Try it for dinner tonight!