The Importance of Not Burning Bridges

I know in an era where it seems popular and socially acceptable to “match the energy given” or treat others how they treat you. My unpopular opinion, is—don’t. I want to speak on the importance of not burning your bridges. 

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. -Galatians 6:9

You never know when you may come back to a place where you need that person or organization at a different time within your journey. 

When I stopped teaching second grade, I was SO over my season. I loved my babies, (my students) but felt it was time for me to shift in my career. As my days got closer to leaving, I wanted to just tell some folks what I’ve been thinking all along and honestly, give some a taste of their own medicine. 

I’m so happy I didn’t do that. 

At first, I was thinking, “I’ll never see some of these people again, I’m done with this chapter of my life, so who cares.” 

The thing is, my season for teaching second grade and at that school was done; but my purpose and connections made there would always serve purpose. 

I found myself missing the classroom and still wanting to be a part of education/ teaching. I just wanted to teach in a different way; I didn’t want to teach second grade anymore. However, I was diving into entrepreneurship and my planners were finally launching. My passion had grew more for entrepreneurship than teaching elementary school. I knew I couldn’t go full time entrepreneur yet since I was just starting. I still needed steady income in order maintain my business and lifestyle. 

Guess what I found myself wanting to return to? Teaching. But this time, I had decided I still wanted to teach but in a different way. I took my love for entrepreneurship and teaching and started applying for high school marketing and entrepreneurship teaching positions. 

My references, former connections, and reputation from my previous school was everything in getting rehired. 

Though there were many times I wanted to just walk off, I maintained good character. I kept telling myself “bow out gracefully.” The very season I was so ready to close, was the very season to help me get into my new season. When it came to references, my former connections and leaders had nothing but good things to say about me. 

I thought I was done with the people from my former season, but the thing is with life, we never know when we just may need people again. We are all connected for divine reasons sometimes reasons only God knows. 

Be kind, be gracious, be forgiving because reason one—it’s the right thing to be, and reason two—you just never know when someone may need you or you’ll need them. We are all here to help one another. We’re all connected for greater purposes. 

Oh, and guess who many of my first customers were when I launched my planners? My former colleagues, teachers, and other staff from my previous school. See? Just because our season may have expired and we long for change, never discredit your purpose for where you’ve been and where you are going. It all connects later. ❤️

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.” -1 Corinthians 13:4-7

All my love,