I Quit My Job Twice Because of One Girl...?

Back in 2011, I was 26 and entered my 1st relationship.

We had been together for almost 4 years and by 2013, I've met her family and some of her relatives in China, we spent almost every day together.

We were inseparable --- except when I was working and she was studying.

At that time, I had just started my career as a trainer and coach.

Work was exciting, but I was traveling a lot for work. It kept me busy but also brought challenges I wasn't ready for.

You see, I was young, adventurous, and honestly, I didn't know how to say no. That led to mistakes that jeopardised our relationship.

I screwed up.

To make things right, I decided to quit.

The work was draining me - mentally, emotionally, even spiritually.

My relationship and sanity mattered more.

So, I left and took up a more stable job with an agency.

Things started to look better. With her also starting work, we could finally enjoy some of life's simple pleasures.

But that didn't last long.

Her expectations began to shift. I couldn't meet them, and as we both grew, I started learning things about her that changed the foundation of what we had.

Though I tried to make it work, cracks in our relationship began to show. The harder I tried to hold on, the more distant we became.

Eventually, she wanted to separate. And we did. It was devastating. I felt like I was responsible for everything that messed up.

After we broke up, I left my job. I'd lost my reason for being there.

Fast forward 12 years to 2025.

Guess what?

I went back.

Yes.

... back to that same agency.

I'm sorry if you thought I got back with her but that never happened.

Like I stated... it doesn't end how you think, but there's a reason I'm sharing it.

Please hear me out for a bit longer.

This isn't one of those stories where everything ties up neatly with a romantic bow. This was different. For years, I wondered if I had made the right choices.

Life came full circle in a way I never expected

When I walked in for the interview, I saw familiar faces—people who had stayed on after all those years. In an industry where staff turnover is sky-high, that felt rare.

How did I end up with an interview?

One of my former colleagues had stayed connected with me through social media.

Over the years, I had shared bits and pieces of my journey—my highs, my lows, and everything in between. They weren't all polished or perfect. Some were downright messy. But they were real.

When I shared how tough 2024 had been for me, my old colleague saw it. That's how I got the interview.

And when I went there, my old boss remembered me, he said: "For some reason, I always see your posts. And I can't believe it's been more than 10 years."

It turns out, sharing those stories—both good and bad—helped me in ways I never expected.

So, share your stories. Douse your shame with empathy.

Here's why I'm telling you all this:

Life isn't always picture-perfect, and neither are our stories. But sharing them, especially the hard ones, can create connections you never imagined.