Quitter

I have never quit anything in my life.

Fine, it's an exaggeration, but if you can't make dramatic, self-important statements, then why have a blog at all? Quitting has always been hard for me. This is the story of three things I should have quit, but didn't.

My College Newspaper

The first writing job I ever had was for an independent, student-run newspaper. Every week we were expected to pitch and write three stories. We were only paid monthly contingent upon completing our work, which basically meant I was not paid for the first four months though I easily worked thirty hours a week while attending college full-time.

Everyone was fairly new to every job whether reporter or editor, so I was thrust into a competitive environment without the experience, support, or time I needed. Though I did get the hang of it eventually, the last story I ever did was a disaster and I was suspended for a week as a result.

Why I Should Have Quit: I cried in public on a bi-weekly basis because I was so stressed.
What I Learned: A stable, organized environment can make all the difference.

Hapkido

I took a full semester of Korean martial arts (Hapkido) in college. It wasn't a fun/happy/feel good kind of martial arts either. It was a serious, disciplined, calling your instructors "Master" and bowing to the Korean flag every day deal. I felt like I was in Shredder's Foot Clan.

Turns out, I have a problem with authority. When I'm being led by someone I think is unjust, I hear drums in my ears and start to think I'm some kind of rebel leader that has to destroy the institution from the inside out, man! It didn't help that I was the only female that regularly attended my level. I got in my head that if I didn't do Hapkido that meant girls couldn't do Hapkido and, by god, I wasn't going to LET SEXISM WIN.

(It's important to note this was completely baseless. Everyone was incredibly supportive and one of the masters was, in fact, female.)

I didn't turn up to my orange belt test because I didn't want to embarrass myself. Then I still went out with the Hapkido people for drinks. What the hell was I doing?

Why I Should Have Quit: I was ALREADY in kickboxing. Plus, what the fuck have I used Hapkido for?
What I've Learned: Just because something is hard doesn't mean that it's worth sticking with it.

My Last Relationship

I'm sure I'll write more about this later, so I'll keep it short.

I dated someone for 3 1/2 years that I should have dated for maybe one. It was my first serious relationship. He was the first and only person I have ever been in love with.

I tried to break up with him three weekends in a row and didn't. We didn't celebrate our three year anniversary and I didn't call him on his last birthday. Our relationship didn't end so much as expire on the day we graduated from college.

It is the biggest regret of my life that I didn't walk away.

Why I Should Have Quit: He was a flaming asshole and kind of an inconsiderate, selfish lover.
What I've Learned: Being with someone who doesn't value you takes a huge toll on your self-esteem.

Sometimes, quitting is the best thing to do. I think I'm finally starting to learn when to walk away.