Resign or Recess?

In February 2017, I had a conversation with the editor-in-chief of the newspaper publication I was working at. It wasn’t an easy conversation but it was important for me to have it. By the end of that conversation, I had resigned from my position at a section editor for the newspaper. 

I resigned because I didn’t agree with - or believe in - the direction the newspaper was going. The kinds of stories that were being covered - and the angles at which these stories were being approached - went against my fundamental beliefs. So, I spoke out and eventually resigned.

Resigning from that position meant taking a stand for something I believed in. Beyond that, it meant protecting my peace. It took three years of rejected applications before I got the opportunity to work at that publication. It was a great place to work and it opened me up to many other opportunities. Yet, when the time came, I had to take a stand and protect my peace.

On my final day at the publication, the editor-in-chief said to me, “Tobi, sorry about how things ended, but I'm glad to have worked with you. Although I’m sad that you’re stepping away from us, don’t stop writing stories that matter. This is not a resignation, this is a recess.”

If you’re reading this, you have been more than just a spectator to the endless list of issues that have plagued our planet and societies over the past six months. In one way or another, at some point this year, your daily life has been affected by these issues. You’ve been an active character in the story of 2020. 

As much as it is great for you to continue to engage in activities and conversations that keep you and your community safe, healthy and working towards a better future, it is equally important to take sometime and step away to protect your peace.

Like my resignation, there are several reasons for you not to step away. You may want to continue to stay informed, be actively part of the conversations, show up for marginalized communities, be as productive as possible and so on. While these are valid reasons - and activities that I’m sure you’ve already been engaging in - at some point, you need to prioritize your mental wellbeing.

Over the years, I’ve learnt that resignations aren’t always bad. When you resign, you position yourself for better opportunities. This is exactly what happens when you take a break. By taking a break, you take a stand for yourself. You allow yourself to be refuelled, mentally and creatively - and when you’re ready to reengage, you will be better at doing so. 

If no one has told you this recently, let me be the first to tell you to take a break and protect your peace. When you do so, please know that: it’s not a resignation, it’s a recess.

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