Hindsight was not my friend

So last summer, June 07 I quit my job to go work for another company. A small marketing agency as a project assistant for a fairly big account for their fairly tiny company. I had a few friends that worked there and it seemed promising. Being my first job right out of college, I just knew I was made for bigger and better things and so was constantly looking for something new, something where I would be appreciated for my hard work and my talents could shine and take me to the moon. So I packed up what little I had and peaced out. Buh Bye 401(k), dental insurance…
The first few weeks were a blur, the day after I was hired the Account Executive I was to work with on the account up and quit. She went back to being self employed and left us all high and dry. I had no one to really train me in the job or the ways of the world (so to speak) and so I was pretty much screwed from the beginning. It was a company that believed that you stayed until the job was finished, too many hours spent on planning and talking about what to do and little time for the actual action of the doing, along with catty talking behind backs and throwing co-workers under the bus whenever necessary. Basically sink or swim. I never fit and it never worked out. I had respect for my co-workers and boss, but in the end they screwed me so I got mine. I had kept great relations with my initial, right out of college job. I knew they had never hired a full time person for my old position and after I had left really they saw the job I did and the efficient way I did it. I got my old job back, with more pay and some additional duties to help me get a promotion after I got back behind the same desk and same phone number I had barely 9 months ago.
I have kept in touch with a few co-workers from the shittiest job of my life and one was right out of college. She and I are friends on the FACEBOOK and she constantly updates her status...she’s so unhappy there and I just feel so bad for the poor girl. She moved to this city not really knowing a soul and took this job not really haven’t anything to compare it to. I hope she can figure things out because I know for sure it wasn’t worth the gut retching, head exploding stressful situations they would put you in. Two words: Pure hell. I learned so much about myself in those nine months that I never thought I would. Just when I think I know it all…then they throw me for a LOOP.
I have gone back to my OG job and haven’t looked back once. I love my 401(k), dental insurance, understanding and supportive (and fun) co-workers and supervisors…seriously. There are some things I could leave again, like my Pam like desk situation, still not paid what I’m worth, having to punch a clock, listening to the TT’s ramble on about things I won’t bore you with today. But all in all I can say this - Life is good. I don’t go home with sick feelings in the pit of my stomach anymore; I can leave work at work. And some people don’t want that, but I do.
So thank you 2008. Thank you for letting me jump into the shark infested deep dark ocean and still be able to get back on the boat and cruise back home with only a few nicks and nips.
~a