10 Comments
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Diane Jacobsen's avatar

I love what you wrote! I’m so glad you’re starting to feel like yourself again and I hope that you will keep blossoming as you forge ahead on this mind-boggling adventure! Love you very much!

Cortney Jacobsen's avatar

Thanks Mom! Love you back bunches!

Jessie Wei's avatar

mmmmmmmm... Feeling deep, deep gratitude for Aja pointing me here this morning. I'm on the edge of this now in similar and different ways. I feel called to document the journey of dropping the storyline and who I ever believed I was to embrace all that is here now. Thank you so much for writing beautifully and sharing vulnerably.

Cortney Jacobsen's avatar

It took me 10 years to- maybe longer - to get to this point. I wish it could have been sooner, but I also know that these things can’t be rushed. Good for you for opening your mind to change. Take everything at your pace, at your time.

Nigel Simpson's avatar

Cortney, the story of your work crisis and search for meaning really resonated with me. I faced a similar confluence of issues culminating in abusive work experience. Taking a year off enabled me to heal and chart a new more true-to-me path. I wish you the same, as you rediscover what brings you joy and satisfaction.

Cortney Jacobsen's avatar

Thanks so much for this, Nigel. Glad this resonated with you. I'm sure you can relate that it feels strange to take a year off, but I do believe it will enable me to see the best "true-to-me" path, as you found!

jill loewenthal's avatar

Very authentic, articulate and relatable. Looking forward to following you on your journey of self discovery as you reconnect to your purpose and forge ahead.

Cortney Jacobsen's avatar

Thanks for your support, Jill!

Eileen  Quenin's avatar

This was serendipitous! I was pursuing LinkedIn and your post popped up. So well written, heartfelt, and I hear/see you, friend. I decided to take a severance package from Epsilon in April. My experience and feelings these past few years echo yours.

I may call this a sabbatical, a multi break or simply retire for good and ride off into the sunset. I’m so burnt out; I can fathom ever wanting to go back to that tech grind, start ups, etc.

I spoke with my advisor and given what my lifestyle choices are; this is doable.

I’m looking forward to following your adventures!

Cortney Jacobsen's avatar

It's so great to hear from you Eileen! Burnout is real - but I believe it can be cured with space and time. And "getting back into it" doesn't have to mean the same tech grind that you've been doing. I don't have the answers, and will spend the next year trying to find them, but I am very much intending to take a different path when I return to work later this year. Good luck with everything and definitely stay in touch so I can follow your journey!