And I Resigned — The Day I Chose My Sanity Over Survival
I remember the morning vividly.
The sun had barely risen. My uniform was folded neatly at the edge of the bed. The air in the room felt thick—not because it was cold, but because I couldn’t breathe. Not properly.
I have gone through the motions for months—early morning shifts, aching feet, moments where my smile felt borrowed. I had said “yes” to everything except me. Until that morning. That quiet, unremarkable morning when something snapped, softly.
And I resigned.
The Job I Never Dreamed Of
Like many others who relocate from Nigeria to the UK for studies, I came with hopes—of opportunities, a new chapter, a chance to build something that lasts. But reality had other plans. Bills came quickly. Loneliness crept in. And when creative work didn’t pay fast enough, I did what many brave immigrants do—I became a carer.
It wasn’t the job itself. It was how it slowly chipped at my light.
I was constantly giving, yet feeling unseen. No room to design, no mental space to write. I was watching my creative self fade while holding on to a paycheck that could barely hold me.
When Mental Health Whispers, Then Screams
You see, burnout doesn’t always come with fire. Sometimes, it comes with silence. I stopped sketching. I stopped writing. I stopped dreaming. I started surviving.
But survival is a slippery slope. One day you’re pushing through, the next you’re staring at your reflection and barely recognizing her.
That’s when I knew—I wasn’t just tired. I was lost.
And what terrified me more than quitting… was staying.
Choosing Myself Wasn’t Easy. But It Was Right.
When I typed the resignation letter, my hands trembled. Not from fear—but from power.
I wasn’t walking away from a job. I was walking towards myself.
The creative girl with sketchy afro hair who used to dream under the stars back in Nigeria… She was still in there. And I owed it to her to show up fully.
And so I did. With no backup plan. Just belief.
What Came After Resignation Surprised Me
I thought I did feel regret.
Instead, I felt light.
I slept without dread.
I started sketching again.
I designed again.
I told stories again.
You Can Start Over Too
This post isn’t to tell you to quit your job tomorrow. No, that would be reckless.
But if your job is slowly dimming your light… if your creativity is dying in the name of “just surviving”…
Then this is your permission to pause.
To ask:
- What do I need right now?
- What do I want to build?
- Can I start small—on the side, on weekends, or in between shifts?
Because you matter. Your art matters. Your healing matters.
What Ardarrh Inspiring Offers Now
Today, I work from home, creating for brands and individuals worldwide. I design. I write. I teach. I sell emotional art that connects.
And I help people like you:
- Rewrite their CVs for remote work
- Build websites that tell their story
- Buy and sell digital art with real meaning
- Start their creative careers with strategy and soul
Because I know what it feels like to start with nothing but a pencil and a prayer.
Final Thoughts: And She Resigned… and She Rose
Sometimes, freedom comes in the form of an email.
A bold sentence that says: “I can’t do this anymore. And I won’t.”
That’s how I left survival behind and chose to live again.
If you’re reading this and your heart feels heavy, let my story remind you:
You’re not weak for wanting more.
You’re not selfish for choosing peace.
You’re not late to your dreams.
You are right on time.
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