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Let’s talk about self worth and your job.
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In February 2019, I started my new job at Microsoft. In August 2019, I was diagnosed with cancer.
Not only was I trying to prove and show my worth at work, but I was also trying to balance going through the hardest thing that has ever happened to me.
Not only was I trying to prove and show my worth at work, but I was also trying to balance going through the hardest thing that has ever happened to me.
And to add one more thing: my husband and I got married 10 days before my diagnosis.
I was coming off the highest of highs marrying my best friend and then coming down to the lowest of the lows.
Life will do that to you. And I tried to be strong and roll with the punches.
I was coming off the highest of highs marrying my best friend and then coming down to the lowest of the lows.
Life will do that to you. And I tried to be strong and roll with the punches.
Something I really struggled with was I wanted to continue to show my worth and be a good colleague. But trying to balance a very high stress, fast-paced job, while also trying to rest and take care of myself was really difficult.
Any mistake at work I felt guilty and ashamed. I wanted to feel like I could manage both things.
I would take a couple days off for chemo and then I was back at work a couple days later. (Hindsight is 20/20. This was a crazy thing for me to try and do.https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="😳" title="Errötetes Gesicht" aria-label="Emoji: Errötetes Gesicht">)
I would take a couple days off for chemo and then I was back at work a couple days later. (Hindsight is 20/20. This was a crazy thing for me to try and do.
And then you throw in a pandemic, two surgeries and finding out my cancer came back. I was tired and so stressed. And my mental health was really struggling.
I sat in a 1:1 with my manager the Monday after I found out my cancer was back. She encouraged me to take an extended leave from work.
I hesitated at first. Thinking to myself that if I did that I would be even more behind than I already was. My career would be stalled.
I hesitated at first. Thinking to myself that if I did that I would be even more behind than I already was. My career would be stalled.
And then I remember the many times I tried to tell myself: “Give yourself grace, Tessa.” And that was it. I knew what I needed to do.
With the support and love from my family, friends and colleagues (and my insurancehttps://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="🙏🏼" title="Folded hands (mittelheller Hautton)" aria-label="Emoji: Folded hands (mittelheller Hautton)">) today was my first day of an extended medical leave.
With the support and love from my family, friends and colleagues (and my insurance
I’ll spend the next couple of months taking the time going through trees my while also giving https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💯" title="Hundert Punkte Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Hundert Punkte Symbol"> of my focus to heal both mentally and emotionally.
I’m sharing this with all of you with the hope that you too, give yourself grace.
I’m sharing this with all of you with the hope that you too, give yourself grace.
I know a lot of us strive to be the best we can be, and that’s great. But don’t let your work define you. Know that is https://abs.twimg.com/emoji/v2/... draggable="false" alt="💯" title="Hundert Punkte Symbol" aria-label="Emoji: Hundert Punkte Symbol"> okay to take time for yourself.
Disconnect, take care of yourself, find the things that calm you down. And most importantly, give yourself grace.
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Disconnect, take care of yourself, find the things that calm you down. And most importantly, give yourself grace.
If you made it this far. I want you to know how much this community has helped me over the last couple of months. I feel really grateful.
So with all the extra time I’ll have on my hands. Let’s connect. Whether that is via DM, Zoom, Instagram, etc.
So with all the extra time I’ll have on my hands. Let’s connect. Whether that is via DM, Zoom, Instagram, etc.
