Good News/Bittersweet

Today was my last day at my primary job (aka: crappy nonprofit job). It was the most emotionally exhausting day I ever experienced there - and that's saying a lot considering how much crap I went through there.

Here's the deal...

The reason today was my last day is because I resigned! I was recently offered a new (and much better) position at another nonprofit. This np is much more in my field (it's an education np focused on literacy) and my new position is a big step up - I'm going in as a program manager. I'm also getting a nice raise. :) This job has been in the works since I interviewed back in August; the position was on hold for almost three months while they moved into a new office and restructured several positions. They finally called me a little over a week ago and asked me to start ASAP. Of course, I said yes! :)

So, today was filled with good-byes; actually, the last three days have been. During my 2.5 years there, I made a few close friends, met a lot of very cool people, and became attached to a lot of my clients. I'm sad to leave my friends, but I know we will continue our friendship; however, the clients are another story. I don't know if I will ever see them again, which is hard. Of course, it's also hard to leave my friends. Ugh. Saying good-bye just sucks.

The majority of my clients had been homeless for an extended period - they went through many transitions and loss and because of that, tend to form strong attachments to the people who help them with them with their post-homeless stability. Of course, it's hard not to form your own attachments to the clients as you work with them in various stages of vulnerable periods in their lives. Well, I said good-bye to some of my favorite clients right before I left - I told myself I wouldn't cry, but after one of the clients started crying when he hugged me, I totally lost it. Completely lost it. It wasn't even one of those little tears pool at the corner your eyes and you still look cute cries - no, it was one of those chin-trembling, face-scrunching, huge pool of tears rushing down your face cries.* Ugh. Then I had to go and teach a class with a red nose and eyes. Double ugh.

This new job is a good move for me. I'm very excited about the opportunity and I think I made a smart choice in taking the position. However, there are things I will miss about my job (my previous job) - well, not really any things, but rather people. I'm excited to get away from all the bs in the department (including some higher-ups who take their personal issues out on the staff & very crappy pay)... it's just all a little bittersweet.

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*I'm sure my emotions are on a super-high partially because of last night - I went out drinking and dancing with my co-worker friends to celebrate/say good-bye. I consumed waaay too much vodka and ended up only getting about three hours of sleep. Bllllaaaeeeeccch.