Well I’ve done it! I have worked in retail for the last 9 years and have finally come to realize that I have many things in my life that are more important than the pay check. I worked at Dillard’s in the children’s shoe department since the store was opened. I started there the same month that I found out I had MS. I wondered if I was doing the right thing. So you see I have a history there.
I truly birthed that department and gave it life. I valued the moments I was there and tried to help the customers that visited us. I gravitated to those customers others ran from. When I would see a child either unhappy or giving their mother a hard time I would see the opportunity to help make them feel better after spending time in our department and hopefully finding that special pair of shoes that needed. I felt that I was showing the love of Jesus to those that I helped. Yes, I did feel that I was doing good things when I was working. But it had gotten to the point that our pay was being cut every 6 months or so and I knew I was worth more than that to me and to my family. There was a part of me that felt a connection with my customers and they, over the past 9 years had really become my friends and I had seen some of their children grow from babies to kids with feet to big to fit into the shoes that I sold. So you see I had a history there.
The thought of quitting had been in our conversations at home throughout the past few years but I kept on going. Then it all became clear!!!! I was missing doing the things I wanted and needed to do because I was working at a place that did not value me and my talents. I have a great family! My husband of 32 years has been so happy since I quit. He is so cute. He will stand in the door watching me sew and when I realize he is there he just smiles and tells me how happy he is to see me so happy. I am now able to be here and do things with my husband and my three children when we have the opportunity. Before it was such a chore to have to plan a time when we all could get together when our schedules would allow it.
We have three children that are grown but are still very much a part of my life. Our two daughters are both college graduates and our son is going to graduate in May. We are at a place in life that retirement for my husband is looking really good to us. We like to travel and are enjoying little trips here and there. We will be able to do a lot more of that now! What a blessing I have been given.
