A Journey of Self-Discovery: Sohum
Four months ago on December 13th, 2023, I lost my job. Coming back from six months of maternity leave as Etsy's Director of Product Management, Fulfillment Organization, I was blindsided. Within an hour, I found myself locked out of my account, an email announcing my dismissal effective within an hour. My initial reaction? Extreme joy and release. I immediately called my sister, exclaiming that my deepest hope had been answered—I was free from this corporate job that did not make me happy. However, reality soon set in. Our double income lifestyle was no longer sustainable. Fortunately, Mario had recently landed an amazing role at Doordash, providing enough income to sustain us while I dipped into my severance from Etsy. During my first therapy session with Beti post-job loss, I expressed my intention to take a break from the nine-to-five grind. She was elated. “You have worked 12 years straight, and as a mother of two young children, you are burnt out.” Initially, I told her a year...