I am beyond excited to finally have Mountain Mermaid Treasures up and running!

This has been in the works for years really, thinking about getting a site set up, assuring people that it was in fact in my plans to do so every time I was eagerly asked if I had one, trying to find the time to actually get it done; but it’s only been in the last six months that I have completely devoted myself to the task.

I made the terrifying and heart-wrenching decision to leave my job at the beginning of January, to work full time on my own business. This was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever made, not only because voluntarily giving up an income is insanely scary, but also because I genuinely loved the company I worked for and the people I worked with…especially my beautiful, amazing coworker whom I will refer to as Barbara. She had become not only one of my very best friends, but also a sort of Mother to me. My husband and I had discussed the possibility of diving into my business full time; interest in my jewelry and the demand for a website was growing faster than ever, but I always told him I just couldn’t imagine leaving Barbara. Maybe I could look into the possibility of staying on part-time, once we were ready to jump in and in a position to have a decreased income. Certainly I wouldn’t be making that move anytime soon.

How very wrong I was.

I loved almost everything about my job. A truly amazing company with some pretty amazing people. There was just one little hitch: I had a horrible manager. I tried everything in an attempt to resolve our issues, even forcing myself, every day, to focus on his face in my mind and send him loving light, but ultimately, my insistence to stand up for myself and refusal to be squashed into silence by my direct superior, made it inevitable that something irreparable was bound to happen. And so it did, during my year review. After a frustrating “conversation” in which I was repeatedly bulldozed over by blatant lies, he handed me my performance letter, in which he had rated me a 60% employee. He may as well have slapped me across the face. I gave my whole heart to that job, I LOVED my job, and yet, (as he explained) because of the three occasions in which I stood up for myself, I was a “D” employee.

Ice flooded my veins and it took every ounce of self control I posses not to scream my immediate resignation in his face. I would not let him dissolve my character; I would leave with dignity and grace. I don’t know how I managed to stave off the tears that were raging against my eyelids, but I kept calm as we finished the meeting until I could seek refuge in the bathroom before finishing my shift. Those last few hours were torturous. Keeping a smile on my face, fulfilling my duty as Receptionist with the same devotion as always, keeping the tears at bay, knowing that this would be my last full day with these people I had grown to love. Because when someone hands you a letter telling you that you are not valued, you don’t stick around to be abused. Or at least you shouldn’t. And I didn’t.

That night, after stopping at my mom’s house to cry for a few hours, I walked into my house, sat down on the bed, looked my husband straight in the eyes and said, “I’m quitting my job tomorrow”.

I stayed up all night drafting my letter of resignation and handed it in to HR the following day. My resignation was met with shock and sadness, but I knew it was what I needed to do. So I completed my exit interview and cleared out my desk. During all of this, Barbara was out sick so I had to visit her at home and explain why I wouldn’t be there on Monday morning. Leaving her was the hardest part. We took care of each other, and I hated knowing that I wouldn’t be there for her every day anymore.

I am telling this story, not for sympathy or praise, but rather to illustrate how amazing a bad situation can turn out to be. Sometimes, what we need most is for someone or something to give us a good, hard, push in the direction we’ve merely been meandering towards.

After the initial three week depression, I decided to get my ass in gear and get my business fully up and running. Something I’ve been dreaming of for several years! It’s been a long, hard, slog and there were several moments of overwhelming self doubt, but I did it! As devastated as I was to leave my job, as angry as I was with my manager, I’m honestly really grateful for everything that happened because it helped push me to pursue what I am passionate about. It certainly hasn’t been easy, and without the support from my amazing husband and family, I likely wouldn’t be writing this post. So I would like to publicly thank everyone who has stood by me, believed in me, and helped me through my moments of doubt. Without you all, this wouldn’t be possible.

I love you all so much! Welcome to Mountain Mermaid Treasures!

xoxoxo*

Candace