The Road Not Taken

Last spring, I left a job that I loved dearly at a company I had worked for and been loyal to for over ten years. I left at the peak of my career, after being given a position that I had worked a whole decade to get. I left because I saw the future of my beloved company was in jeopardy - the entire greeting card industry in fact - seemed in jeopardy. Good old fashioned cards and letters have long been replaced by texts, e-cards, and email. One day I had to tell a woman in her early sixties who had been with the company for nearly twenty years (who coincidentally had heart problems) that her store was closing. I had shopped at her store with my mom when I was a little child and here I was, two decades later telling her that she was going to be jobless. It was probably the worst day of work I have ever had to do. After closing nearly 15 stores, I started looking for a different company to grow with. I knew that I couldn't buy a house knowing that my career was unstable.


I accepted my current position in June 2007. It was the hardest choice I've ever made - because I loved my job. I loved my boss - I've never had a mentor that I loved or treasured the way I loved her. I put in my notice via email, got on a plane to Washington state (for work) and by the time I got off the plane, my phonemail was full of messages - asking me not to leave. After a lot of agonizing, I decided to leave. My new job was a step down from my "big fish in a little pond" status that I had at my old company. I went to a place where no one knew me, knew my accomplishments, or my abilities. It was amazingly difficult and I honestly have regretted leaving at times when my job has gotten difficult or I have missed being a part of my old familiar company. But I knew today would come.


Today, I found out that nearly 300 employees were let go, including my dear friend Erik who really was "one of the good guys." Thirty more stores are planned to close, and I worry that the rest can't be too far behind. It hurts to see something that I loved so dearly and worked so hard for start to fail. I invested ten years of my life to help that company make it. It seems like it is for nothing. I think about the days I spent at the corporate office and all of the friends I had there. I wonder which 300 people it was. Which faces, which names, which departments. I worry about the rest of my friends and my poor boss who I care for so much. My heart is heavy.


And yet, I am so thankful for making the decision that I made a year and a half ago. I know me and I would not be able to make it with the stress of so many friends being let go and worrying if I was next. Please pray for my friends at American Greetings. I have never known a better group of people. So much of who I am is because of them - their leadership, their guidance, their friendship. May God bless them and keep them all in his sight.