Man, thinking back to December 2022, it was a wild ride, for real. Things had been feeling stagnant for a long time before that, you know? Just grinding it out day after day at the same old gig, staring at the same four walls, doing the same damn tasks. I was pretty much just going through the motions, clocking in, clocking out, collecting the paycheck, but my heart just wasn’t in it anymore. I felt this heavy weight, like I was stuck in mud, dragging my feet every single morning.
I tried to push through it, told myself it was just a phase, that everyone gets those feelings sometimes. But it wasn’t going away. I’d sit there, looking at my screen, and just feel this profound sense of “is this really it?” The creative spark I used to have, the drive, it was all just gone. Poof. I remember just staring out the window a lot, daydreaming about doing something, anything, different.
Then December 2022 rolled around, and something just clicked. It wasn’t one big explosion, more like a slow burn reaching its peak. I got tired of feeling tired, you know? I started just looking. Not actively applying, but just seeing what was out there. I’d scroll through job boards late at night, just casually browsing, seeing other roles, other companies. It was almost like window shopping for a new life. I saw a few things that sparked a tiny bit of interest, a little flicker in the darkness.
One evening, I decided to actually do something. I sat down and just started updating my resume. It felt like a monumental task because I hadn’t touched that thing in years. I mean, YEARS. So, I grabbed a coffee, put on some tunes, and just started typing. I pulled out old projects, tried to remember what I actually accomplished in my current role besides just existing. It was surprisingly tough, but also kinda liberating, like dusting off an old part of myself.
After that, I actually started sending out a few applications, almost on a whim. No real strategy, just picking things that didn’t sound soul-crushing. I didn’t expect much, honestly. I figured I’d get a bunch of rejections, which I did, of course. Those emails stung a bit, but then again, I wasn’t really invested yet. It was all just an experiment.
The Grind of the Search
Then, suddenly, I got a call back. Blew me away, really. It was for a completely different kind of role than what I was used to, something that really stretched me. I remember thinking, “Me? For that?” But I said yes to the interview. Why not? What did I have to lose?
The interview process was grueling. It wasn’t just one or two chats; it was a whole series of them. I had to really dig deep and remember skills I hadn’t used in ages, or even learn some new stuff just to talk intelligently about it. I spent evenings watching tutorials, reading articles, trying to catch up. My brain felt like it was doing gymnastics. There were times I wanted to just throw in the towel, thinking, “This is too much effort. I should just stick with what I know.”
But something kept pushing me. That tiny spark that had flickered on, it was getting stronger. I practiced my answers, thought about my experiences, and tried to connect the dots between what I knew and what they needed. It was less about faking it and more about realizing, “Hey, I actually can do this, I just haven’t had the chance.”
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, they called with an offer. I nearly dropped my phone. It was such a mix of emotions. Pure elation, obviously, but also a huge wave of panic. This was it. This was the big change. Stepping out of my comfort zone, into something completely new. My old job, for all its monotony, was familiar, safe.
I took a few days to really think about it. Talked it over with the wife. She was super supportive, told me if I didn’t take the leap, I’d probably regret it forever. And she was right. So, I did it. I accepted the offer, put in my notice, and just watched everything transform around me.
Stepping into the New
The first few weeks at the new place were a whirlwind. It was like learning a whole new language. New people, new systems, new ways of doing things. I felt like a total rookie again, which was both terrifying and incredibly exciting. Every day was a challenge, but also an opportunity to learn something new. No more staring blankly at the screen!
Looking back, December 2022 truly was the start of everything shifting. That decision to finally act, even if it was just updating a resume, set off a chain reaction. It showed me that sometimes, you just gotta push through that heavy feeling and make a move, no matter how small. It felt like I finally cracked open that stuck door and stepped into a bigger, brighter room. And man, am I glad I did.
