A Day in the Life of Lara: Day #1
Today was a New Moon. Today, I resigned from my full-time job. It feels⌠unreal! Iâm mostly excited, and know I have so much work to do. Iâve also had a headache almost since the moment I quit. It was such a big decision for me, and it hasnât really settled in yet.
To give you some background, I have been working in International Sales at the yoga company Manduka for almost three years now. Itâs honestly been the best job Iâve ever had. Iâve been proud to work for the best yoga brand in the world! Iâve learned so much about sales and business and marketing and branding and communication. But most important to me, Iâve worked with amazing and inspiring people and have made lifetime friends. Iâve watched the company almost double in size since I started, and being a part of Manduka has been such an important piece of my life.
A little over a year ago, in October 2015, I also opened my own yoga studio, Yoga Bliss. While teaching many of the classes, managing the studio, hiring other teachers, acting as janitor, bookkeeper, social media manager, receptionist, window washer, and overseeing every little aspect of my new venture⌠I also kept my full-time job. This was my choice as I never wanted to worry about money. I have had marathon days, almost every single day of my life, for more than a year. And barely any days off. Itâs been crazy to say the least. There were a couple of moments when I cried in my car or in my bed because I was just so exhausted and didnât know when I would ever catch a break.
But every day, I loved being at Yoga Bliss. I loved watching the community grow. I loved making new friends. I loved teaching and sharing yoga. I loved getting to know people. I loved seeing all my hard work pay off.
And today, on December 29, 2016, I gave my notice that I would be leaving Manduka in five weeks. This was the moment I have been waiting for, for ten years, since I first started working after college. I had dreamed of building a business that would support my life without requiring me to clock into an office and a desk. It was finally happening, so why did I feel like throwing up still?
Iâve taken many risks in my life. Iâve quit my job before to do yoga teacher training and backpack abroad for half a year. Iâve asked guys out on dates. I even signed my lease to the studio before my business loan was confirmed. But I hadnât felt so anxious about something in a while.
I still felt scared because⌠itâs still scary! No matter how I look at it, my income is now dependent on: me. Itâs scary to let go of a stable job that I actually enjoyed. But I also knew it was just time to go.
I didnât know how much longer I could exhaust my energy. I had moments thinking, âThis is how people get cancer.â (I know that is morbid and extreme.) But lacking sleep, running on empty, eating out a lot, not taking breaks⌠It was too much. My moments of love for my new business were mixed in with far too many moments of sheer exhaustion.
On top of being simply overworked, my job at Manduka was going to change into something I didnât fully want to do. I didnât want to be both tired and unhappy. I looked at the growth of my own business and marveled at how much more it could be if all my energy was focused on it. I imagined waking up in the mornings without an alarm. I envisioned having âfree time.â (What is that?!) I imagined getting my life back. It looked glorious.
I didnât throw up. I had a heartfelt talk with my boss and we shared our excitement and sadness. I told my friends at work and received so much support. I called my close friends after work. I drove to the studio I love so much. It was all real. I took a long bath to let it soak in.
So now that Iâve thought about it and written about it⌠Iâm excited more than anything else. I canât wait to have more time to myself. I canât wait to create and to build and to grow. I canât wait to sleep.
Thank you to all my friends and family who have always supported me and believed in me. With so much Love and GratitudeâŚ
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