Is endurance a flex?

Some while ago we relocated in Australia due to my partner getting a job in another city. After struggling to find a job in the new area I finally started in a new position. Except that I only lasted there three days. 

From the first day I could sense that it might not be the place for me. The organization of tasks was unnecessarily difficult, my coworkers seemed careless of my existence and the manager used all morning for micromanaging the tiniest movements and tasks around. By the third day, I was exhausted and felt as if I had worked there for weeks already and I knew I wasn’t the only one, as midmorning my workmate burst into tears under stress. As they left work after a complete meltdown, I left knowing I’d never come back. 

Later in the evening I was telling about it to some new acquaintances over a dinner, but I didn’t get quite the reaction I was hoping for:

“I’m sure it wouldn’t have been that bad. I would have just ignored them!” 

“Well that sure was dramatic! What if you don’t find another job?”

I found them belittling my experience and focusing on how things could have been worse and I should just toughen up. I felt foolish.

I got up to go to the toilet and ordered a cocktail from the counter on the way back. After accidentally cutting in line I had a chat with a stranger in the queue and ended up telling them the story of my unlucky employment. 

“WHAT?” he screamed as I mentioned that someone started crying. “YES!” he celebrated as I told I quit immediately. 

And as he said: “You have to protect your energy! They’re not worthy of your time.” – I realized just how much I needed someone to support the hasty decision I had made. 

I’ve been thinking about that evening a lot and I find it very interesting how just a couple of strangers could affect our decision making in just moments and on the other hand how quickly we’re ready to jump into conclusions and judge each other.

Even though I knew that I had made the right decision for me, I couldn’t help feeling silly, impulsive and out of place. Meanwhile these people knew very little about me or the circumstances, they were determined to explain me how they would have been more rational in the situation. 

If I have learned anything during these years of travelling, it’s this:

Trust your gut and don’t listen to people who tell you to endure. I’m here to live, not to survive.

xx

PS. I found another job right away, the next day, to be specific.