From the Office to the Kitchen

This evening, I was washing our dishes from last night, or were those from the night before last...   thinking about how excited I am for April 17th. (That's this year's tax deadline, in case you didn't know. Really, why push it back until Tuesday the 17th? Uncle Sam couldn't do us all a favor and call the deadline Friday, April 13th?) 

I was thinking about how my tax deadline went last year.  I was at AKT then too, and by 4PM, I had completely run out of tax work to do. After asking all my in-charges, they told me just to kill time until 5.  Instead of pulling up Youtube videos like any of my coworkers would have done, I naturally, and rather subconsciously, went to the kitchen.  While in there, I emptied the dishwasher, filled it back up with dirty coffee cups, wiped down the counter, straightened up the newspapers.  

And then it hit me...

The office is not where I'm meant to be. 

In the deepest part of my soul, I am one who cleans and creates. I am not a number cruncher; I am not a brainiac; I'm not a machine. 

Almost a year later, I now see the significance of my moving from the office to the kitchen.

I grew up working in a bed and breakfast. I was the Activities Coordinator on student government. My favorite thing to do is cook dinner for my husband.  None of those things say 8-5 in front of a computer screen. Rather, they say - people-person, hospitality, coordinating, designing, creating.

While I enjoy accounting, it is not what I am passionate about. And until now, I didn't realize that it is not even what truly comes natural to me. 

But being in the kitchen won't pay the bills. 

It doesn't have medical benefits. 

It means giving up "a great job."

But that's ok.

Life is not about money. 

Life is about arms-wide-open passion for what and whom you love. 

The bills will still be here when I leave, but my soul won't. It's time for me to start taking care of my soul.

And let me tell you - my soul- she's not in the office.

Here's to finding her way out.