A Grateful Goodbye

People have been asking me lately if I am sad to be leaving the job that I’ve been in for the past 2 years and the industry I have worked in for almost 14.

I would be lying to say that this isn't an emotional time for me, but no, I am not sad.

I realize how much of my life I have spent in this high-stress environment, spending my days trying to make other people happy. I know that it is time for me to leave that behind.

I am not downplaying how difficult of a decision this was for me or how long I have delayed this because I was scared, or nervous, or whatever it may be.

But no, I am not sad.

I will look back fondly on a lot of the memories I have and the people that I have met. Some have become lifelong friends, some I hope to cross paths with again in the future.

I would not be the man I am today if it weren’t for the things I have experienced and the people that I have met. I wouldn't change any of it for the world.

I am thankful.

I am thankful for the long hours spent on my feet.

I am thankful for the times I’ve cut and burned my hands. 

I am thankful for the guests who have yelled at me about things that I couldn’t control.

I am thankful for the coworkers that I couldn’t stand.

I am thankful for the opportunities I was given to manage people and establishments.

I am thankful for the endless knowledge of alcohol that will be mostly useless anywhere else in my life.

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to cook.

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to lead a team.

I am thankful for the opportunity to learn how to buckle down and get shit done, no matter how you are feeling.

I am thankful for all of it.

So, maybe I am a little sad. But not in the way that you might think.

I’m not sad, but a tear may still be shed.

I don’t know exactly how I will feel when I walk out after my last shift ever. I get a little emotional even thinking about it. But, I don’t think it will feel real right away. It may take a few days to actually sink in.

Either way, I am ready to close the book on this part of my life and open a whole new one.

I don’t know what will happen or where it will take me. All I know is that if I can handle everything thrown at me so far, I can handle anything that stands before me.

Looking back on my years in the restaurant industry, I still chuckle at where I ended up.

I forced so much passion into what I was doing, that I never thought I would even try to leave.

I spent so much time learning everything I could to get as good as I could at my craft. I spent hours and hours reading cocktail books, trying new recipes and techniques, taking courses, going to events, tasting, and experimenting.

If I am sad, that is why. That was a lot of fun and will always be some of my favorite memories.

More than anything, though, I am full of hope and excitement; for the new experiences I will have, the things I will learn, and the people I will meet.