Written By: Tassie
Connect with Tassie: IG: @tasco.studio
Age Written: 34. Age Writing to: 30. Location: Denver, CO, U.S.A.
To Her,
A time in my life that was difficult but transformative was leaving my corporate job and the corporate world I had been familiar with my whole professional career for over 12 years. I had been in a career that wasn’t fulfilling me for over 4 years and was mostly draining me and who I was. I started my career in event planning with optimism, high hopes and eagerness to work hard and succeed. I was able to grow quickly in the company due to restructuring from Covid, I eventually became seen as a leader amongst my colleagues and was one of the highest performers in my department over the years (and the highest in my final year). My life had become a vicious cycle of overworking in the name of success and money, while it ate away at who I was as a person and what I enjoyed in life.
I knew I needed a change in my life and career, but I had no idea where to start, let alone the energy I needed to make that kind of positive change. I was stuck in a negative mindset, I was weak mentally and physically, and burnt out beyond what I knew how to recover from. I began to develop chronic neck pain, had been struggling with a pinched nerve that shot referral pain down my arm/hand, and I was forcing myself to work longer hours at a desk than I should to get all of my work done. I also didn’t love talking about my life or being social, and felt like I was a broken record to my family and friends which caused me to retreat in many more ways I hadn’t before in my life. I definitely was feeling alone and lost, and starting to let that thought of “what if I am a failure?” creep in more and more. I was accepting being stuck in this place of my burnt out life and efforts. At this point, resilience wasn’t a part of my vocabulary outside of forcing myself to do a job everyday to make an income and survive.
It took my boyfriend having a heart to heart conversation with me that I needed to make a change for both of our sakes, and he would support me through it, even if I was incomeless for a bit if that’s what I needed to be able to do it. I soon had the same conversation with my Mom who also said she would support me however she could through this transition because she too was watching my personality and joy deteriorate over the years. I had been too proud and embarrassed to think about actually asking for help or support in any way, when I knew deep down I needed it, I just thought I should be able to figure it out on my own like everyone else seemed to be doing.
I finally started to form a plan that felt safe enough to take the leap, even if it took another 6 months or so to prepare for that moment. I had been planning to quit with no job at the beginning of the year with the mindset of I can always find a part time job if I need, when I learned from a close friend that I could likely take medical leave for burn out and mental health, which honestly changed my plans in the best way. I was approved for 6 weeks of partially paid medical leave, and this allowed me to really deep dive into where I wanted my next chapter of my life to go before being totally incomeless.
I have changed my career and industry many times in my professional life so far, but I knew I wanted to focus on my values, goals, stability and true flexibility in my next move that felt more authentic to me. Over those 6 weeks I let myself dream and imagine where I saw myself in 2, 5 or 10 years, and what I felt really brought me purpose and happiness in my life. I kept coming back to my creativity, love for design, and connection, so I decided to lean into that by creating a career around it and putting my energy into my dreams instead. I knew it wouldn’t be easier than my corporate career, but it felt like direction I hadn’t had in a long time, and it felt like me even if it terrified me.
I quit my job in May of 2026 and over the next 6 months I have been challenging myself to learn new skills, a new industry, start a business, awkwardly put myself out there and truly bet on myself, even when I have no idea of what I’m doing (fake it till you make it!). I remind myself everyone has to start somewhere and I can always pivot again, it will be okay!
While I am still figuring it out and everything has seemed to take much longer or been much harder than I thought, I have been slowly building up my confidence again, healing from my severe burn out, and finding that spark in me that was lost for so long. I still doubt myself most days, but I stay true to my goals, values and remind myself that I can always get a part time job or find another job if I need to right, but how cool is it to bet on myself and really see where I can take my life because, why not me?! And, it’s even cooler that I have people in my life to encourage me to do it because in asking for their support, they are along for the adventure now too.
If I could go back 1 or even 4 years really, I would tell myself that it’s okay to ask for help, it’s okay to be struggling and not have the answers, it’s okay to fall apart and re-invent yourself over and over again until you feel truly and authentically yourself. There were always a handful of people I would vent to who really understood how miserable I was, and I am sad that I was too ashamed to tell them I really needed help to make that change in my life and for me to feel brave enough to actually go through with it.
As I’ve grown, I have realized my values and goals haven’t changed much since I was a little girl and this was a great place to start when looking for direction. I still just want to create, help others see the beauty in the world and experience genuine, meaningful connections. I’ve realized how important my community is and that my support system matters - It’s okay and only human to lean on others when we are in our darkest moments, even when it feels too shameful because who knows, you could come out on the other side your best and strongest self yet (and learn that you’re not alone even if it feels like it). It takes a village and there is always someone out there willing to help if you ask, even if it’s a stranger at the time.
So I end with this. Life is hard. Change is messy. People are messy. BUT, they are also all insanely beautiful and transformative if you let them be, and to ask for what you need because life is too short not to. You can do hard AND amazing things my friend :)
With love and encouragement to channel your inner bad ass,
Tassie ❣️
