I’ve left jobs before. In fact, early in my career I changed jobs every two to three years.  So, you think I’d be somewhat numb to moving on.  But you’d be wrong.  After spending five years with Ten Thousand Villages, leaving feels bittersweet.

I love my job…truth be told.  It’s rare to be able to apply your skills to a job that is deeply meaningful on a daily basis.  After being here for five years things feel comfortable. I know my team well.  We’ve established trust and a good working relationship. We’ve shared laughs, and have overcome some pretty challenging obstacles.  We’ve done great work together, and I feel a bit of a tug on the old heart strings as I wind down my tenure here.

I’m leaving for a new opportunity….one that provides me with more money and some pretty cool challenges.  I will admit that the money is the driving factor behind my change.  Working for a non-profit is incredibly meaningful but now that I’m a single mom, I just couldn’t make it work on this salary. And working two jobs just seemed a bit cruel, especially when I knew I could replace my current job with a better paying one.  So, for me and for my daughter I chose to pass the torch to someone else. It was time for me to move on.  I’ve given my heart and my time to the mission of Ten Thousand Villages, and I feel good about my contributions. It’s now someone else’s turn to sit in this chair. Onward and upward, as they say.

There are many cherished memories and even some life lessons that I will take with me as I depart Villages.  I was fortunate enough to travel to Vietnam a few years ago. It was a trip I’ll never forget. It opened my eyes to the world and to my single, small place within it.  That trip gave me a perspective that I’ve never forgotten. It taught me that even in the face of seemingly unsurmountable obstacles, reaching out a kind hand to another human being can be life changing. Love and humanity really are quite powerful. (You can read more about my trip here: https://aspeckofsand.wordpress.com/)

This job also helped me see the power that each of us has to bring change.  The world is filled with good people…loads of them. With all the negativity surrounding us — constantly streaming newsfeeds and people like Donald Trump spewing hatred and narcissistic bullshit 24/7 —  it’s sometimes easy to forget that the world is filled with goodness.  And it is.  And I saw that while working here…time and time again.

I’ve met women from Bangladesh, Nepal, India, Vietnam, Bali, Kenya, Ghana, and Guatemala.  Each of them carries a unique story held together by a common thread of hope.  I will never forget the artisans I met during these past few years.  I believe people come into our lives to teach us things; even those we meet in a flash.  Those women have taught me a master’s class in survival. No matter how big the obstacle, we can overcome it.  For whatever we’re feeling on any given day, there is certainly another human suffering far worse. I really hope I can cling on to that perspective as I make my way through my next journey in this single, solitary life.

I am leaving with a heavy, but full heart. I am grateful for the opportunities I’ve had to meet some pretty incredible people from the farthest corners of the globe. I’ve listened to first-hand accounts of struggle and triumph….of mother’s loving daughter’s, of women supporting women, of children going to school when it seemed like nothing more than an impossible dream.  I will carry my compassion for eradicating poverty with me.  I am a firm believer that education is the way out of poverty. I will take the lessons I’ve learned here and use them again in this lifetime. I’m not yet sure how exactly, but that’s ok. It gives me something to think about during my new commute.

 “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.”  — Mahatma Gandhi